Two more suspects in Bali terrorist attacks stand trial in Denpasar

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.