INDONESIA: Remorseful Bali bomber Ali Imron was jailed for life yesterday for helping organise and execute last year's deadly nightclub attacks, but he escaped the death penalty given earlier to an older brother.
The sentence was tougher than the 20-year term sought by Indonesian prosecutors, even though Imron had expressed sorrow during his trial that his actions had killed innocent people and urged family and supporters not to imitate him.
"The defendant has been proven legally and convincingly guilty of plotting with others crimes of terror. We are therefore sentencing the defendant to life in jail," said presiding judge Mulyani.
The Bali blasts, last October 12th, killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists partying at Sari Club and Paddy's Bar at the famed Kuta beachstrip, which were frequented by Westerners.
In its sentencing, the court referred to an article of Indonesian law requiring that any person convicted on those charges be sentenced to death or a minimum of life in jail.
Security experts said the verdict would help reassure the world that Indonesia remained firm in its treatment of militants.
Earlier this month, a Jakarta court disappointed some by handing a relatively short four-year sentence to Abu Bakar Bashir for treason, a man many authorities believe is the spiritual head of the Islamic terror network blamed for Bali and other attacks.
"It's just another indication they are not going to buckle when it comes to these guys," a Jakarta-based Western security analyst said, on condition of anonymity.
In cases concluded earlier, judges sent Imron's brother, Amrozi, and the convicted ground commander of the operation, Imam Samudra, to death row on similar charges. Neither showed any remorse or the co-operative attitude of Imron.
Prosecutors want the death penalty for another of Imron's older brothers, Mukhlas. The court is to deliver its verdict on October 2nd.