The Jakarta Post, 12/15/2003 3:30:59 PM
Bali suspect says he was first tricked into preparing explosives
DENPASAR, Bali (AFP): A man accused of involvement in last year's Bali bombing
admitted Monday he helped prepare ingredients for a deadly bomb but said he was
initially told the chemicals were to make fertiliser.
Abdul Ghoni, who could face a firing squad if found guilty, said he crushed chemicals
at the home of convicted bomber Amrozi in Java in September 2002 and later took
four boxes of the powdered chemical to the resort island by bus.
But he told the court he did not know at the time that the chemicals were material for
a bomb. Amrozi, who has been sentenced to death for his role in the bombings which
killed 202 people, had told him they were for fertiliser.
Ghoni admitted he was in Bali on October 1 when the potassium chlorate, sulphur
and aluminium powder were mixed into an explosive combination but he said he did
not himself take part in the mixing.
"I only moved the explosive powder from the plastic bags into the filing cabinet," he
told the court.
The explosive materials were packed into a filing cabinet in the back of a van which
exploded outside the Sari Club on October 12, 2002. Another suicide bomb went off
seconds earlier inside Paddy's Pub but the Sari Club blast claimed the most lives.
Police say the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror network carried out the attack
to avenge perceived injustices against Muslims worldwide.
Ghoni is accused of helping to plan the attacks and assemble the bombs and of
possessing explosives. He said the man who mixed the chemicals was Sarjiyo, who
is facing trial separately and has admitted mixing the explosive powder.
The trial of Ghoni -- alias Umar, alias Wayan -- resumes on December 22 when
prosecutors will recommend a sentence.
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