The Jakarta Post, 8/16/2006 3:47:50 PM
Militant jailed for 2002 Bali bombings to be freed, others get
reduced sentences
JAKARTA (AP): An Islamic militant convicted in the 2002 Bali bombings will be
released from prison Thursday and 10 others are likely to have their sentences
reduced to mark Indonesia's independence day, prison and justice ministry officials
said.
It is an Indonesian tradition to cut jail terms on holidays, but the decision is expected
to anger countries that lost citizens in the twin nightclub attacks that killed 202
people, many of them foreign tourists.
Three militants serving time in East Kalimantan's capital of Balikpapan are slated to
receive reductions of four months, paving the way for one, Puryanto, to walk free, said
Edi, a prison official.
Eight others in the main prison on Bali island are expected to receive sentence
reductions of one to six months, said Anak Agung Mayun Mataram, a justice ministry
official.
A total of 33 people were jailed for the 2002 Bali blasts - the most deadly in a string of
attacks in Indonesia blamed on the al-Qaida-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiyah.
Those who will benefit from Thursday's remissions played relatively minor roles in the
suicide bombings - from carrying out robberies to finance the attacks to helping
shelter the main suspects.
Three militants - Amrozi, Ali Gufron, and Imam Samudra - are scheduled to be
executed later this month and three others are serving life sentences. (**)
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