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Posted on 06/30/2003 12:50:55 PM PDT by spald
Print this article | Amrozi's smile slips as prosecutor calls for his head
Alleged Bali bomber Amrozi shifted uncomfortably in his swivel chair yesterday as the prosecutor in his trial called for the death sentence to be passed for his role in the October 12 attacks. "We, the prosecution, request that, because of the evidence that has been brought before the court, that he has planned and caused an act of terrorism... you should bring down the punishment of the death penalty," Urip Tri Gunawan told the five judges, after a seven-hour summation of the prosecution case. Moments later, Amrozi's defence lawyers asked chief judge I Made Karna to order an investigation into allegations that Amrozi had been tortured. "Whoever tortured the accused is liable to four years in jail," the lawyer said. But Mr Gunawan angrily rejected the request and asked the defence lawyer to read the prosecution file first. "I never wrote in the file that I said that Amrozi was tortured," Mr Gunawan said. "Amrozi never said that he was tortured, don't turn the words around." Judge Karna said he would take a written submission from the defence team. Minutes later, as Amrozi was being led from the court, Spike Stewart, from Werribee, stood and shouted "Amrozi!". Catching Amrozi's glance, he then shouted in Bahasa Indonesia, "Kamu mati (You're dead)". He followed with "Bastard" as Amrozi was taken away. After the outburst, Mr Stewart was grabbed by Australian Federal Police and escorted from the court. Mr Stewart's son Anthony died in the blasts that claimed 202 lives. Outside the court, Mr Stewart apologised for his actions. "I just want to apologise to the judge and to the prosecutor for shouting," Mr Stewart. "I hope not all Australians are blamed because of my shouting." He then left the court precinct. Earlier, the prosecution named outlawed terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiah as the group responsible for the Bali bombings. Prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan said Amrozi, 40, had met Abu Bakar Bashir, the Muslim cleric believed to be the spiritual head of JI, and Imam Samudra, also on trial for his part in the Bali bombings, while in Malaysia. "They are members of JI and admitted that they also did the previous bombings in Merjokoto and the Christmas Eve bombings," Mr Gunawan said. Nineteen people died and many were injured in synchronised attacks in Java and Batam Island on December 24, 2000. Bashir, who is on trial in Jakarta for planning to assassinate Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri, has denied the existence of JI and has not admitted planning any bomb attacks. In the summing up, delivered by four prosecutors at breakneck speed while reading from a 220-page document, the prosecution read a precis of the evidence from each of the 55 witnesses who testified. Three other witnesses had their statements admitted to the court during the hearing without giving evidence. "This is considered an international crime and the (bombing) operation was organised, even though loose, and small and underground," Mr Gunawan said. The group in Bali, of which Amrozi was a member, had contacted each other by SMS mobile phone messages and had changed their phone numbers every day. He described Amrozi's disputed confession as a "classic" because he had had lawyers with him throughout his interrogation. Amrozi's signature smile was still apparent yesterday but he looked nervous all day long, fidgeting as he sat metres from the five judges who will determine his fate. "Bali is known to be very safe and welcoming and the world was surprised by the attack. The international community is scared to come to Bali," Mr Gunawan said. "Bali is a community that lives in peace, it's safe and welcoming. The world was shocked when Bali became a terrorist target." The trial was adjourned until July 14, when Amrozi and his defence team will make their final summation to the court. A verdict is not expected until late July. The trial of Mukhlas, Amrozi's older brother and the alleged head of Jemaah Islamiah, proceeds tomorrow after judges rejected defence submissions that his confession should be rejected because he had been tortured.
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/30/1056825335210.html
By Wayne Miller
Denpasar, Bali
July 1 2003
Hey, hey- a "sympathy donation" from my wife's boss moved me up to a 450mhtz K-6 last Christmas- and after swapping assorted cards, drives, and upgrading to Win 98 I finally got the damned thing online.
Good thing, too- the 486 BIOS chip croaked at this very time, and it is now a stripped case in the old darkroom...
If I'm not mistaken, that's the first time a Western citizen/victim of the Islamists has actually been able to confront and say something to the weasly little cowards.
(the end paragraphs) "If executed, Amrozi would be killed by firing squad.
Amrozi, a 40-year-old mechanic, was the first of 34 suspects to go on trial over the bombings. Prosecutors have accused him of buying the materials and the minivan used in one of the attacks. In earlier testimony, he admitted his role in the Bali bloodshed and told his lawyers he was ready for punishment."
Good. Still like to see him "hoist on his own petard," but that's good enough.
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