Defendants reject prosecutor's charges in trial related to Bali bombings

Fidelito Ahmad The Jakarta Post Lamongan, East Java

Four of five defendants who stood trial at the district court in Lamongan, East Java, rejected the government prosecutor's charges that they had violated Law No. 12/1951 on the illegal possession of arms and explosives and the anti-terror government regulation in lieu of law No. 1/2002 on terrorism.

Lawyers who accompanied Sumarno, the nephew of Bali blast defendant Amrozi, Qomar bin Thalib, Nurminda bin Thalib and Nurfitrotullah, told the court that it was not clear what role their clients played in the finding of the arms and ammunition.

"Besides, following the finding of arms, explosives and ammunition in Dadapan forest last October and the police arrest of our clients, the public has concluded that our clients are terrorists and this has tarnished their families' image in the country," Fachmi Bachmid, one of the Muslim Lawyers Team, said.

In the previous separate court sessions last Monday, the government prosecutors charged the five defendants with transporting arms and explosives, possessing them illegally and concealing them.

The trial which was presided over by judge Mariani was adjourned until May 26, to hear the government prosecutors' response to the defendant's objection to the charges.