Militant jailed for helping Bali bomber
An Indonesian court today sentenced a Muslim militant to nine years in jail for aiding the escape of a convicted terrorist involved in the 2002 Bali bombings. He was the 32nd defendant convicted in connection with the attack that killed 202 people.
Ahmad Roichan, also known as Sa’ad, was found guilty of helping Ali Ghufron, who along with two others has been sentenced to death for carrying out the October 12 blasts. Other sentences have ranged from three years to life.
Roichan, who wore a Muslim tunic and a prayer cap, showed no emotion as he was sentenced. He said he would consider appealing the verdict.
“The defendant has been found guilty of … hiding information concerning the whereabouts of one of the key terrorists,” said judge Isti Ningsih Rahayu.
Roichan was also convicted for possessing several hundred rounds of ammunition.
The twin blasts – the deadliest terrorist attack since the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US – catapulted Indonesia into the front lines of the international war on terror and severely damaged Bali’s tourism-dependent economy.
Indonesia has been praised for its investigation into the attack, though several key suspects are believed to be still at large.
Authorities have blamed the al Qaida-linked militant network known as Jemaah Islamiyah for the attack, as well as the August 5 bombing of the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta in which 12 people died.
