The Age, February 20, 2007
Warder 'gave' Bali bomber laptop
A PRISON warder supplied convicted Bali bomber Imam Samudra with a laptop
computer that allowed him to plot other attacks from his cell on death row, an
Indonesian court heard yesterday.
Benny Irawan, alias Abu Hanafi, 29, was on trial in Semarang district court, Central
Java, accused of receiving a package containing a laptop and other equipment on May
5, 2005, while he was a warder at Bali's Kerobokan jail.
He wrapped the laptop in old newspapers and gave it to Samudra in his jail cell later
the same day, Elshinta radio said.
Irawan was later transferred to work at another jail in Purwokerto, Central Java.
"The defendant had intentionally provided assistance or facilities to a terrorist,"
prosecutor Didik Joko told the court.
Mr Joko said that Samudra — sentenced to death over his key role in the 2002 Bali
nightclub bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians — used the laptop
to stay in contact with other Muslim militants. But he did not confirm press reports
quoting police sources who said that Samudra had helped plan other attacks,
including the 2005 Bali suicide bombings that killed 20 bystanders.
The indictment said Samudra had sent money to Agung Setyadi, who is to be tried
separately, to buy the laptop and send it to Irawan in Bali.
Setyadi and another man, Agung Prabowo, are both accused of creating a terrorism
website, with tips on attacking foreigners, on the orders of Samudra.
The website was active from June to October 2005.
Samudra and fellow Bali bombers Amrozi and Ali Ghufron, alias Mukhlas, are all on
death row. Mukhlas has preached to other militants by mobile phone from his jail cell,
according to a police report to parliament.
AFP
Copyright © 2007. The Age Company Ltd.
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