Two more suspects in Bali terrorist attacks stand trial in Denpasar

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

The Denpasar District Court began on Thursday the trial of two more suspects in the Bali bombings as part of the lengthy efforts to bring those believed responsible for the terrorist attacks to justice.

Sarjio, alias Syawad, alias Zaenal Abidin, and Suranto Abdul Ghoni, alias Umar, alias Wayan, are charged with assembling the bombs that killed 202 people, mostly foreigners, on Oct. 12, 2002.

Prosecutor Ida Ayu Komang Ratnasari said Sarjio was involved in the planning of the blasts and, under the antiterrorism law, could face the death penalty.

Ratnasari asserted that in September 2002, Sarjio received Amrozi at his house in Surakarta, Central Java.

Amrozi, who has been sentenced to death for his role in the bombing, told Sarjio about the results of a previous meeting at the house of another suspect, Hernianto, which determined the plan to take revenge on the United States and its allies for what they termed their suppressive actions against Muslims in the world.

The prosecutor said Amrozi had asked Sarjio to work with Dul Matin to assemble the bombs and told the defendant that Abdul Aziz, alias Imam Samudra, would act as the field commander, Ali Gufron as the treasurer and Ali Imron as an executor. Amrozi said he would provide raw materials to make the bombs and procure a car for the operation.

"The defendant agreed with the meeting's outcome and had accepted the job. His main duty was to ... make a bomb," Ratnasari said.

Sarjio and Abdul Ghoni are among the last four suspects on trial for their alleged involvement in the blasts. The Denpasar District Court has convicted and sentenced 29 suspects, including Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron who received the death penalty.

Leading players Ali Imron and Utomo Pamungkas have been sentenced to life, while the other 24 suspects received punishments ranging from three to 16 years in jail.

The police are still hunting down key suspects and bomb experts Dr. Azahari and Dul Matin, who were implicated in the bombing of the J.W. Marriot Hotel in Jakarta on Aug. 5, 2003.

During his first hearing, presided over by Judge Arif Supratman, Sarjio appeared calm. He wore a long-sleeved white shirt combined with black pants and black shoes. When entering the courtroom at Nari Graha building in Renon, Sarjio smiled and raised his hands to greet journalists and court attendants.

On Sept. 25, 2002, the prosecutor said Amrozi ordered Sarjio to go to Bali to meet Idris who picked him up at Ubung bus station. Idris took Sarjio to Kuta beach, which Idris said was a den of sin.

In early October, Sarjio began mixing various chemical substances, including potassium chlorate and aluminum powder sent by Amrozi and Abdul Ghoni from Lamongan, East Java.

After Sarjio completed his jobs Dr. Azahari and Dul Matin added other chemicals, including TNT and RDX.

Malaysian national Azahari and Dul Matin also assembled a vest bomb worn by Iqbal in his suicide bombing at Paddy's Pub.

The bombs, which later went off in front of the Sari Club, were put in 25 boxes. The bombs were later put into a white L-300 van and taken to Jl. Legian by Ali Imron. On Jl. Legian, Arnasan replaced Ali Imron as the driver. Iqbal, who wore the vest bomb, accompanied Arnasan.

In a separate trial, prosecutor Wayan Suwila charged Abdul Ghoni with taking part in assembling the bombs in a house on Jl. Pulau Menjangan, Denpasar.

The court is also trying Saad and Heri Hafidin who are charged with hiding Bali bombing suspects and failing to inform the police of their whereabouts.

The trials of Sarjio and Abdul Ghoni were adjourned until next week.