Militants appeal death sentences

Militants appeal death sentences

JAKARTA: Two militants sentenced to death for a bombing at the Australian embassy filed appeals on Monday, their lawyer said.

Achmad Michdan registered the appeals at the South Jakarta district court which issued the verdicts last week against Achmad Hasan and Iwan Darmawan Mutho alias Rois.

Judges ruled there was enough evidence to convict Rois because he told police Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had funded the September 2004 van bombing which killed 12 Indonesians including the suicide bomber.

The judges found Rois played key roles including recruiting the suicide bomber and preparing safe houses for two fugitive Malaysians, Noordin Mohammad Top and Azahari Husin.

Rois and Achmad are the first Indonesians sentenced to death for terrorism since three Indonesian militants were ordered to die for the Bali nightclub bombings, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians in December 2002. -- AFP