Bali bombing trial to start in April

DENPASAR: The first trial of the Bali bombing case is expected to start at the end of April in Denpasar, an official said on Thursday.

The announcement was made public by Bali Police Chief Insp. Gen. Budi Setyawan after a meeting with the Bali administration, Bali prosecutors' office, and the Denpasar district court.

He said the prosecutors' office and the court needed more time to analyze the dossiers of the Bali bombing suspects.

"The dossiers are thick. If we don't read them precisely, it would affect the verdict," Budi told reporters.

Budi said the police would have more time to prepare for the security of the trials.

Earlier, the authorities said that the first trial of the cases would start either in February or March.

The trial is likely to take place in either the court building on Jl. Panglima Sudirman or in Nari Graha building in Renon, located two kilometers east of the courthouse. Both locations have been approved by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights.

The court had prepared three rooms for the hearings and raised the iron fences around its complex for security reasons. The Nari Graha, which can accommodate some 500 visitors, is currently being renovated.

Nineteen judges have been assigned to oversee the trial of some 30 suspects of the Bali bombings, which claimed 202 people.

The first to be tried will be Amrozi, who is charged with purchasing the materials, transporting the materials to Bali and helping assemble the bombs. --JP