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.