Former JI member jailed in Bali for Indonesian attacks | Crime News

Zulkarnaen, who had been on the run for almost 20 years before being captured, was jailed for 15 years for his attacks that resulted in more than 200 deaths.

An Indonesian court has sentenced Zulkarnaen to 15 years in prison for leading members of the hard-core Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) group for the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people.

Zulkarnaen, a former al-Qaeda-linked JI military commander, was tried not only for Bali’s attacks but also for other attacks by a group under his command.

“[He] He is guilty of terrorism and has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, ”the East Jakarta High Court judge said on Wednesday for punishing militants, concealing information about attacks and associating with the JI cell.

The 58-year-old had been on the run for nearly two decades after being named a suspect in the Bali bombings. A judge who could not be named for security reasons under the country’s anti-terrorism law has announced a 15-year prison sentence after the prosecution sought a life sentence.

Zulkarnaen’s lawyer, Asludin Hatjani, said the prison sentence was too long and he would discuss appealing with his client.

Police and prosecutors have accused Zulkarna of playing a role in the bombing of Bali, killing 12 people in a 2003 bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta.

At trial, Zulkarnaen said he was the leader of JI’s military wing, but denied any involvement in the nightclub attacks.

Analyst Stanislaus Riyanta warns that despite being sentenced to prison, Zulkarna should be controlled even if he is in prison.

“He may spread his radical ideology in prison,” he told Reuters.

Three of the main perpetrators of the Bali attacks have been convicted and executed in Indonesia, and a fourth, Ali Imroni, has been sentenced to life in prison after apologizing and remorse.

Another suspect, known as Encep Nurjaman Hambaliyear, the United States has Guantanamo Bay For 16 years.

He is one of the few people arrested there and has a military commission.

Indonesia has set up an elite police unit called Densus 88 in response to the Bali attacks.

Although JI has weakened significantly, other groups such as Jamaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) are becoming more prominent. Zen prohibited In 2018 after a number of suicide bombings.