Defendants reject prosecutor's charges

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.