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with Amrozi's answers, the presiding judge ordered the prosecutor to read out the written testimonies that Amrozi had withdrawn during Mubarok's previous trial.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