Suspects may get life sentences

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.