Lawyers want Bali bombing trial moved for security reasons

Lawyers want Bali bombing trial moved for security reasons

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

A group of unidentified men attacked on Tuesday two lawyers
who are defending the suspects in the Bali bombing case, injuring
one and strengthening the defense team's call for the upcoming
trial to be moved outside of Bali as the island was unsafe for
them.

Lawyer Made Rahman Marassabesy suffered a bruise on his left
cheek after he was punched in an attack against him and
colleague, Qhadar Faisal Ruskandar.

Qhadar managed to dodge the attack although his glasses fell
and broke.

The incident occurred after the two attended a preliminary
hearing of Masykur Abdul Kadir, one of the 15 detained suspects
in the Bali bombing case.

More than 190 people, mainly foreign tourists, died in the
blast at two of the islands' crowded nightclubs in October last
year.

Security was tight at Denpasar District Court, where the
preliminary hearing was held, said Qhadar.

"Afterwards we left under police guard to head for the head
judge's room. But when we got there, the room was locked and so
we waited in front of the door," he said.

He said he felt relaxed at that time because of the large
presence of police officers from the crowd control unit.

Made, he said, was facing north and did not see his attacker
who emerged from the crowd that had assembled not far behind him.

"The moment I heard Made Rahman cry out, I turned and there he
was on the floor, in front of me, covering his head," Qhadar
said.

The crowd behind Made and another group of people in front of
him became agitated after witnessing the incident. It was only
then that the police stepped in, as they pushed the crowd away
from the two lawyers. An ultimatum for everyone who had "no
business" to leave the area managed to disperse the crowd.

Upon seeing the crowd splitting up, several police officers
immediately took the two lawyers to a car with which they were
taken to safety.

Bali Police chief of detectives Comr. Sr. Eddy Kusumawijaya
said he would investigate the incident which Made Rahman had
reported.

Asked why police did not arrest the attackers even though they
were present when the attack occurred, he said the officers might
have had their own reasons. "It could have provoked others in the
crowd," he said.

Qhadar said he and Made would fly back to Jakarta for a
meeting with the defense team in response to the attack.

They also refused to join the upcoming preliminary hearings,
asking the court to postpone them or proceed without their
presence.

"Whether they grant it or not that's up to the head judge.
I've written my request and will fly to Jakarta," he said, adding
that he would not come return to Denpasar until Thursday.

Police said they expected the trials against the Bali bomb
suspects to begin in February.

Prosecutors received the case files of one of the four prime
suspects, Amrozi, on Monday. They might need another two to four
weeks before registering the case with court officials.

The lawyers' defense team, however, have demanded the trial be
held outside of Bali, claiming that the island was unsafe for
them while also fearing a trial by press.

On Monday, members of the Denpasar Care Forum (FPD) threw eggs
at the lawyers even though the forum earlier said it would help
ensure the trial's safety.

Police meanwhile have examined the laptop belonging to another
Bali bomb suspect whom they believe was the mastermind behind the
blast.

The laptop of Abdul Aziz alias Imam Samudra was opened on
Saturday night. However, the case's chief investigator Insp. Gen.
Made Mangku Pastika has said the result would not be announced to
the public.

University of Indonesia legal expert Rudy Satria said that
electronic data could be used as evidence during a trial even
though its use was not regulated.

"Once the data is printed out, then it is treated like a
letter or document," he explained.