JP/3/bali

JP/3/bali

Busy Bali prosecutors may put two more away for 2002 terror

Wahyoe Boediwardhana
The Jakarta Post
Denpasar, Bali

Prosecutors demanded life sentences on Monday for two men charged
with helping assemble the deadly bomb that killed at least 202
people last year in Bali.

They said the defendants, Sarjiyo, alias Sawad and Suranto
Abdul Ghoni, alias Umar or Wayan, should be declared guilty of an
"extraordinary crime against humanity" on Oct. 12, 2002, which
killed many innocent people and caused a massive economic
downturn for Bali and the country.

Prosecutor Putu Supartajaya said it was proven that Abdul
Ghoni was involved in an August 2002 meeting in Surakarta,
Central Java, to plan the devastating blast.

The defendant was instructed to help assemble the bomb that
exploded at two nightclubs on Jl. Legian, Kuta, he added.

Supartajaya said Abdul Ghoni played a role in packaging the
bomb into a filing cabinet and placing the cabinet in a van that
was used by his accomplices to carry the explosives.

The van bomb was later detonated outside the crowded Sari
Club, claiming the most lives. A smaller bomb went off seconds
earlier inside Paddy's Cafe.

Abdul Ghoni's trial was adjourned until mid-January to hear a
defense plea from his lawyers.

In a separate trial on Monday, prosecutor Ida Ayu Putu
Ratnasari also sought life imprisonment for Sarjiyo for his role
in assembling the powerful home-made bomb.

Although Sarjiyo did not attend the August meeting in
Surakarta, he accepted the results of the talks, Ratnasari said.

She added that convicted bomber Amrozi had asked Sarjiyo to go
to Bali along with Idris, another accomplice who is currently
standing trial in Jakarta.

Sarjiyo later went to Denpasar, where he rented a house to
make the bombs, she added.

Presiding judge Arif Supratman adjourned Sarjiyo's trial until
Jan. 8.

Sarjiyo and Abdul Ghoni are among the four defendants being
tried at the Denpasar District Court. The two others are Heri
Hafidin and Saad who also have been linked to the blasts.

There have been 29 suspects arrested over the bombing
incident, many of whom have already been tried and sentenced to
between three years in prison and death. The three main suspects
-- Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron -- received death, and two
others were given life sentences.