Indonesian court to hear Bali bombers` case review

by uusjio | February 4, 2008 at 08:14 pm

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Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - A court in Indonesia's resort island of Bali will hear a second case review filed by lawyers for three Islamic militants on death
row for the 2002 Bali bombings, further delaying their possible execution.
The Supreme Court has asked the Denpasar district court to examine what new evidence, if any, is presented by the defence team, said court director Nyoman Gde Wirya.
Last year the Supreme Court rejected what was supposed to be the final appeal filed by the convicts, and prosecutors said they would soon be executed unless they sought presidential clemency.
Lawyers argued that the first case review was not heard according to proper procedures.
They also point out that the Constitutional Court has struck down retroactive provisions in anti-terrorism laws, which were written in the wake of the 2002 attacks and used to convict them.
"Today the Denpasar District Court appointed panels of judges to hear the case review," Wirya was quoted by R euters as telling reporters.
He said the Supreme Court rejected the defence team's request that the case review be heard in Cilacap, near the prison island off Java where the militants -- Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Ghufran, also known as Mukhlas -- are being held.
One of the judges, Daniel Palitin, said the cases of the three men would be heard separately.
Judges will meet on Tuesday to decide on the date of the hearings, he said.
Under Indonesian law, the Bali court will submit results of the review to the Supreme Court, which will then pass a verdict.
The three bombers have repeatedly said they will not appeal to the president for clemency, saying they want to die as martyrs. (*) END

"It is not true that we agree with the death penalty and have accepted the Supreme Court's rejection of our appeal," he said, referring to reports that the three men have declared they wish to be martyred.

Bali bombers ready to die: report

"This is the happiest period for us, because we are soon to die as martyrs," Ali Ghufron, the eldest of three bombers, was quoted by AFP as telling the Koran Tempo daily from his jail off the southern coast of Java island.

Indonesian court rejects final appeal for two Bali bombers

"There was no new evidence to back up their claims for a judicial review. Such evidence (Constitutional Court's ruling) does not negate the Bali verdicts," said Judge Djoko Sarwoko, was quoted as saying.