Jakarta: An Indonesian court has sentenced Bali bombmaker Umar Patek to 20 years’ jail for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings, bringing to an end a 10-year probe into the nation’s deadliest act of terror, media reported on Thursday.
According to reports Patek, 45, was found guilty of six charges, a number of which related to the twin suicide bombings on a Bali nightclub and bar that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
“We sentence Umar Patek to 20 years in jail,” chief judge Encep Yuliardi told the West Jakarta district court.
Patek was found guilty of premeditated murder linked to the Bali bombings, and other charges related to the Christmas Eve bombings in 2000 on several churches that killed 19 people in Jakarta.
Upon hearing his fate, Patek stood up and shook the judges’ and prosecutors’ hands, before hugging his own lawyer and walking past reporters out of the court.
His lawyer Asludin Hatjani told AFP that he would hold a consultation with Patek and his family on Friday to discuss whether his client wanted to appeal.
“Umar Patek is very disappointed with the sentence and considers it too severe. He has been honest and admitted what he’s done, and he feels the court has not taken that into consideration.”
The decisions were made by a panel of five judges, who delivered their verdict after a gruelling 11-hour hearing observed by more than 100 journalists, many of whom were Australian, spilling out of the small courtroom.
Around 300 police guarded the courtroom all day and four snipers stood atop neighbouring buildings, West Jakarta police chief Widodo told AFP.
Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, sparing Patek from the firing squad — which executed three other key players in the Bali attacks — because he had shown remorse during the four-month trial.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription