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SCMP Reporter

Relatives of victims of the Bali nightclub blasts cheer as the verdict is handed down against the first of the accused

An Indonesian court yesterday handed down the death sentence to Amrozi, the 'smiling bomber', for his part in last year's Bali nightclub blasts that killed 202 people,  including 11 from Hong Kong.

The verdict was the first to be brought against those arrested in connection with the bombings, and brought cheers and clapping from relatives of victims packed into the Denpasar courtroom.

Amrozi entered the court wearing a loose white Muslim-style shirt, a knitted Muslim cap and brown  trousers, yelling 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great)  and 'burn, burn the Jews'.

He showed no shock at his sentence but, with a huge grin, turned around to face the dozens of onlookers packing the courtroom and lifted up his thumbs in triumph.

A 41-year-old mechanic from Java, Amrozi has been called the 'smiling bomber' because of his jocular manner and lack of remorse.

I Made Karna, one of five judges at the sentencing, read out the verdict finding him 'guilty of committing acts of terrorism' and said the judges had decided to hand down the sentence because of the serious financial, psychological and mental effects of the bombings.

Indonesia carries out death sentences by firing squad.

The chief judge described the October 12 attack on two crowded nightspots, Paddy's bar and the Sari Club, as a 'crime against humanity'.

The judges also said the bombing had caused 'mental trauma' to many victims, both foreigners and Indonesians who were working in and around the two nightclubs.

Before  handing down the sentence, another of the judges  quoted both the Muslim Koran and Hindu texts to prove that religion does not justify acts of violence.

'In the Koran it says you cannot kill and whoever kills must be sentenced,' Judge Mulyani said.

Investigators say the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) group had targeted nightclubs popular with foreigners as part of a holy war to avenge the oppression of Muslims around the world.

Police believe a hotel bombing in Jakarta on Tuesday, in which up to 16 people died, was also linked to the JI and warned that the group might strike again to avenge the Bali verdict.

Although Amrozi told his lawyers he was ready to be executed, the head of his legal team, Adnan Wirawan, said they would appeal against the sentence today.

Amrozi's lawyers say he has shown regret for some of the devastation and deaths he caused.

'Remorse - of course he shows remorse. He was sorry for the killing of those not intended. He does not have anything personal against the Australians for instance,' Mr Adnan  said.

He added that the intended targets of the Bali bombings were 'Americans and Jews'.

Under Indonesian law, lawyers have seven days to appeal the sentence with the local court. The court then has 90 days to respond.

If that court rejects an appeal, lawyers can then appeal to the High Court or the Supreme Court, a process that could delay Amrozi's execution by up to a year.

Amrozi will be held at Kerobokan jail, outside Kuta, while the appeal process continues.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard welcomed the verdict and said it would offer some comfort to the bereaved.

Several Australians who lost friends or family in the bombings hurled abuse at Amrozi as he was led away by four policemen from the courtroom podium into a waiting armoured police van.

Most of the Australians and Balinese who witnessed the trial said they were happy that Amrozi had been given the death sentence.

'He has killed so many of my friends, why should he still breathe when they can't,' said Brad Phillips, 31.

Jake Ryan, 22, who  lost five friends in the blasts, said: 'I had a preference for him to rot in jail but if they shoot him that's cool with me.'

Natalie Juniadi, an Australian whose Balinese husband Juniadi  was killed while drinking at the Sari Club, said although Australia did not have the death penalty she was glad Indonesia did.

'To come here today was really hard. As soon as I walked into the courtroom I could feel my anger boiling up, but I got my anger out at the end,' Ms Juniadi said.

Lawyers say the guilty verdict and the death sentence for Amrozi, who was not one of the senior JI members blamed for the Bali bombings, means that other major suspects such as Imam Samudra, Muhklas and Ali Imron are likely to be given the death penalty.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse



Death sentence for 'smiling bomber'