INDONESIA: PROSECUTORS SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE BALI BOMBING SUSPECT, MUKHLAS, ALIAS ALI GUFRON AT COURT HEARING IN DENPASAR, BALI.

Record ID: 648304

  • Title: INDONESIA: PROSECUTORS SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE BALI BOMBING SUSPECT, MUKHLAS, ALIAS ALI GUFRON AT COURT HEARING IN DENPASAR, BALI.
  • Date: 25th August 2003
  • Summary: (U2) DENPASAR, BALI, INDONESIA (AUGUST 25, 2003)(REUTERS) 1. WS: EXTERIOR OF COURT VENUE WITH SECURITY OUTSIDE. 0.04 2. MV: SECURITY OUTSIDE COURTHOUSE SEARCHING BAGS. 0.10 3. TRACK: OF POLICE VAN ENTERING VENUE. 0.19 4. WS: SECURITY CLOSING GATES OF COURTHOUSE WITH POLICE VAN INSIDE. 0.24 5. MV: MUKHLAS GETTING OUT OF POLICE VAN AND ESCORTED BY ARMED POLICE. 0.32 6. WS: PANEL OF JUDGE ENTERING COURT ROOM. 0.39 7. SCU: PRESIDING JUDGE TJOK RAI SUAMBA OPENING COURT SESSION. 0.46 8. MV/TRACK: MUKHLAS ENTERING COURT ROOM AND BEING LED TO A SEAT. 1.01 9. SCU: MUKHLAS SHOUTING "ALLAHU AKBAR (GOD IS GREATEST) AND PUNCHING THE AIR WITH HIS FISTS. 1.09 10. MLV: JUDGE SPEAKING TO MUKHLAS. 1.14 11. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) PROSECUTOR PUTU INDRIATI SAYING "The defendant did not show any remorse for what he has done. The defendant smiled and was grateful for his mission. The defendant regarded his crime as a game. The defendant believed himself to be righteous." 1.36 12. MV: AUDIENCE LISTENING. 1.41 13. MV: SECURITY LISTENING. 1.45 14. SCU: MUKHLAS LISTENING. 1.49 15. SCU: (SOUNDBITE)(Bahasa Indonesia) PROSECUTOR PUTU INDRIATI SAYING "The defendant Mukhlas alias Ali Gufron alias Sofwan is proven guilty of his crimes planning terrorism actions, causing deaths, creating public fear and massive destruction and keeping weapons and ammunition illegally..We demand the panel judge to impose death penalty" 2.55 16. JUDGE ADJOURNS TRIAL 17. WS: JUDGE ADJOURNS THE TRIAL AND MUKHLAS PUNCHES FIST IN THE AIR/STARTS SHOUTING. 3.04 18. VARIOUS: MUKHLAS IS LED FROM COURT/BROUGHT TO POLICE VAN/POLICE VAN LEAVES. (3 SHOTS) 3.30 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 9th September 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DENPASAR, BALI, INDONESIA
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Reuters ID: LVA1RZFL0DTGE6MGKQUTDO46O6V5
  • Story Text: Indonesian prosecutors seek the death penalty for
    Bali bombing suspect Mukhlas.



    Indonesian prosecutors on Monday (August 25) asked a
    court to impose the death penalty on Bali bombings suspect
    Mukhlas, accused of having overall responsibility for the
    blasts that killed 202 people last October.

    Mukhlas, alias Ali Gufron, is the second of three
    brothers among more than 30 suspects in the case for whom
    prosecutors have requested the death penalty.

    His younger sibling Amrozi has already been sentenced
    to death for his role in the attacks while another is also
    separately on trial, with no sentencing demand yet made by
    prosecutors.

    Thus far prosecutors have asked for the death penalty
    for one other Bali defendant in addition to the two
    brothers.

    As the court session ended Mukhlas raised his fist and
    shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) several times.

    Before that he had appeared relaxed, yawning
    occasionally and stroking his beard while prosecutors read
    their statement.

    Mukhlas, a 43-year-old Muslim preacher, has been
    charged with plotting, organising and carrying out terror
    crimes.

    He has retracted earlier statements given to police,
    saying they were made under duress.

    "The defendant did not show any remorse for what he has
    done. The defendant smiled and was grateful for his
    mission. The defendant regarded his crime as a game,"
    prosecutor Indriati told the court in making the case for
    the sentence.

    "The defendant Mukhlas alias Ali Gufron alias Sofwan
    is proven guilty of his crimes planning terrorism actions,
    causing deaths, creating public fear and massive
    destruction and keeping weapons and ammunition illegally.

    We demand the panel judge to impose death penalty" said
    the prosecutors.

    Prosecutors had earlier said Mukhlas met al Qaeda
    leader Osama bin Laden in 1987 in Afghanistan, and targeted
    the holiday island of Bali because it was popular with
    "white people".

    Most of the victims of the blasts were foreign tourists.

    Analysts say demands for death sentences mean Indonesia
    wants to show it is serious about tackling Islamic
    militancy.

    Indonesia has blamed the Bali bombings on Jemaah
    Islamiah, a Southeast Asian Muslim network linked to al
    Qaeda. JI has also emerged as prime suspect for the August
    5 Marriott blast, which killed 12 people and wounded 150.

    Indonesia accuses Mukhlas of being one of JI's top
    leaders.

    Prosecutors have said he supplied at least $30,500 to
    various suspects to buy explosive materials and a mini-van
    that was later turned into a massive car bomb.

    The court on Monday was adjourned until September 4.
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