Jakarta seeks 20-year sentence for Bali suspect

Indonesian prosecutors urged a court today to pass a 20-year jail sentence on the fourth key Bali bombing suspect, Ali Imron, …

Indonesian prosecutors urged a court today to pass a 20-year jail sentence on the fourth key Bali bombing suspect, Ali Imron, who has expressed sorrow that his actions killed innocent people.

Imron is charged with plotting, organizing and carrying out crimes of terror over the October 12 nightclub blasts that killed 202 people, most of them foreign tourists.

"We ask the panel of judges to punish Ali Imron with 20 years in jail," said prosecutor I Gusti Putu Sulaba.

"Mitigating elements included Ali Imron admitting his actions were wrong and his message to his family and supporters to not follow his actions."

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Imron, the youngest of three Indonesian brothers accused over the blasts, has begged forgiveness from victims and told the court the attack was wrong and besmirched Islam.

The court last month sentenced his elder brother Amrozi to death over the attacks. Amrozi had admitted his involvement and said he was proud the attacks killed white people.

The eldest of the three, Mukhlas - the suspected commander of the Bali operation - is awaiting his verdict. Prosecutors have demanded he be executed, a sentence carried out by firing squad in Indonesia.

Another key suspect, Imam Samudra, faces judgment day next week. Prosecutors have also demanded death for him.

Indonesian authorities have said the bombings were the work of Jemaah Islamiah, a Southeast Asian militant Muslim group accused of plotting and carrying out attacks in the region.

Yesterday, a court in Jakarta jailed Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir for four years on treason charges, but said the prosecution had failed to prove he led Jemaah Islamiah. That sentence was far less than the 15 years demanded by prosecutors.