An Indonesian court Wednesday found that a senior member of an Islamist group, consciously aided terrorism actors and sentenced him to three years in prison.

A three-judge panel of the East Jakarta District Court found the former human rights lawyer and secretary-general of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), Munarman, guilty of committing acts of terrorism. Another judge said Munarman abetted terrorism actors by concealing information on terrorist acts. 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had banned FPI in 2020, stating FPI had no legal grounds to operate as a civil organization. Widodo also said that FPI’s activities violated the law and caused public disorder.

Munarman was arrested in April 2021 under suspicion of being connected to the March 2021 Palm Sunday bombing near a Roman Catholic church. This bombing resulted in the death of two suicide attackers and 20 other injuries.

Munarman’s trial began in December 2021. During the trial, Munarman denied any wrongdoing and claimed to be a victim of political persecution for his vocal criticism of the government. Indonesian police testified that they had obtained video evidence of Munarman pledging allegiance to an Islamic State group which advocates for Islamic Shariah law to apply to Indonesia’s 230 million Muslims. Munarman denied FPI supported the Islamic State group. Instead, Munarman claimed he had been invited to an Islamic State event which resulted in the video evidence. 

According to CNN Indonesia, the chair of the panel of judges said Munarman had been legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act of terrorism. As a result, Munarman was sentenced to three years of prison. The judges added that Munarman’s prior jail time would be added to his sentence as time served, reducing Munarman’s sentence.

Munarman and the prosecutors said they would move to appeal.