Amrozi says he's only guilty of `shopping'

Amrozi says he's only guilty of `shopping'

Agence France-Presse, Denpasar, Bali

A key suspect accused of buying a ton of explosive chemicals for
the Bali bombing described his role as "shopping" as he was
handed over to Indonesian prosecutors on Friday in preparation
for a trial.

Police say the suspect, Amrozi, has admitted buying the van
which contained the deadliest Bali bomb and purchasing chemical
ingredients. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

"What I did was only shopping," Amrozi told reporters at the
Bali prosecutors' office. Asked about his feelings, he said: "So,
so."

Amrozi was the first person arrested over the bombing attacks
on Bali nightspots on October 12 which killed 202 people,
including 89 Australians.

His lawyer M. Sa'af said he expected prosecutors to hand over
an indictment to the court in one and a half months. A date for
his trial has not been set.

Police said Amrozi would face three charges -- including
possession of explosives and a premeditated bombing attack --
under a new anti-terrorism decree issued days after the Bali
bombing.

Prosecutors have the final say on which charges are put to a
defendant in court.

They said this week Amrozi would be the first person to go on
trial next month.

Photos of a laughing and joking Amrozi caused outrage when
they were published in the Australian press last November. He was
pictured during a meeting with national police chief Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar.

Despite Amrozi's official handover on Friday, prosecutors have
asked police to keep him detained at their headquarters rather
than transfer him to a state jail for the sake of his safety.

A defense lawyer was attacked by an angry mob in Bali in
January when he tried to file a pre-trial suit.

Some 38 Indonesians were killed in the blasts, which also
dealt a severe blow to Bali's tourism-based economy.

A total of 30 people are detained in Bali over the deadly
blasts while nine others, including two Malaysians, are still on
the run.