Terrorist suspects refuse to testify in trial

Terrorist suspects refuse to testify in trial

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

Three key witnesses in the Bali bombings trial -- Ali Gufron,
Amrozi and Imam Samudra -- refused to testify against suspected
terrorist Utomo Pamungkas alias Mubarok on Wednesday, and
withdrew their previous testimonies against the defendant.

Amrozi, known as the smiling terrorist, brazenly faced the
judges headed by I Nengah Suryada, telling them he would not
testify against Mubarok.

"I don't want to testify, full stop... just to make the trial
faster," said Amrozi with a smile, despite the judges'
insistence.

Amrozi was the first key suspect of the Bali bombings arrested
by police investigators last year. He is on trial for his role
in the attacks that killed more than 200 people and injured over
350 others.

The Denpasar District Court is scheduled to hand down Amrozi's
verdict on Thursday, two days after a powerful bomb, bearing
similarities to the Bali bombings, ripped through a five-star
hotel in Jakarta, killing at least 14 people and injuring 149
others. If found guilty, he may face the firing squad.

"I think I don't have to hear anymore explanations from the
judges. I will have to face my sentence tomorrow morning (today).
Why should I give any testimony," grinned Amrozi, wrinkling his
forehead.

Impatient with Amrozi's answers, the presiding judge ordered
the prosecutor to read out the written testimonies that Amrozi
had withdrawn during Mubarok's previous trial.

Looking angry and tense, Amrozi refused to hear the prosecutor
and stood up and left the court, escorted by two court officials.

Another key witness Imam Samudra also refused to testify,
maintaining silence during the court session.

"My actions are lawful," Imam quipped.

Another witness, Ali Gufron alias Muklas calmly rejected being
sworn in before the court.

"I don't want to be sworn in or to give a testimony which is
against my beliefs. Alhamdullilah (praise be to God), my beliefs
are fully backed up by existing laws," Mukhlas said.

Prosecutor I Nyoman Rudju insisted that Mukhlas, as written in
Mubarok's dossiers, had known the defendant and said that Mubarok
also attended a meeting in Hernianto's house in Surakarta,
Central java in August 2002.

The defendant Mubarok, however, admitted on Wednesday that he
was the person who drove the L-300 van from Lamongan in East Java
to Denpasar. Mubarok is charged with planning the bombing and
faces a possible death sentence for his alleged involvement in
the Bali attacks.

The only key witness who testified before the court was
Hernianto. He told the judge that he wasn't sure whether Mubarok
was present at the meeting.

Mubarok, accompanied by his lawyers Suyanto and Rifqi Baiza,
confirmed that he did not attend the meeting in Surakarta.

Mubarok's trial was adjourned until next Wednesday.