ABC AUSTRALIA, 09/03/2005, 10:08:34
Indonesian cleric appeals against Bali bombings conviction
The Indonesian Muslim cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, has filed an appeal against his
conviction and 30-month sentence imposed for involvement in the Bail bombings.
A Jakarta court last week found Bashir guilty of "an evil conspiracy" that led to the
nightclub blasts in 2002, which killed 202 people.
Lawyers representing Bashir say that one of the police statements on which he was
convicted is doubtful.
They say the verdict was reached on the basis of a single police report alleging a
conversation between Bashir and a now convicted Bali bomber.
One of Bashir's lawyers, Wirawan Adnan, says the statement was not verified in
court.
"So Abu Bakar Bashir has been sentenced based on something doubtful," he said.
The Indonesian courts have about two months to rule on the case.
Bashir's jail sentence has been criticised by Australia and the United States as too
lenient.
©2005 ABC
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