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Bali bombers' sentences cut
Indonesian court cuts jail terms by up to five months for "good behaviour".
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2007 10:12 GMT
The 2002 nightclub bombings killed 202 people and continues to leave a shadow over the island [EPA]
An Indonesian court has reduced the jail sentences of 10 men convicted for their involvement in the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings.
 
The men had up to five months shaved off their prison terms following a decision that comes in conjunction with Indonesia's independence day.
Those who benefited from Friday's remissions were serving between eight to 18 years.
 
Similar remissions in the past have caused anger in some countries, especially Australia, which lost 88 nationals among the 202 people killed in the attacks on the island five years ago.
Ilham Djaya, chief warden of Bali's main prison, said: "Remissions were given to the Bali bombing convicts because they displayed good behaviour."
 
The jail term of six convicts jailed for helping to plan the 2002 bombings of two nightclubs in the Kuta tourist district, sheltering key suspects and setting up a website to support the attack were reduced by five months.
 
The other four were convicted of involvement in suicide attacks on restaurants in 2005, which killed 20 people. They had sentences cut by two months.
 
The Indoneian government says all prisoners have a constitutional right to sentence reductions, even convicted militants, except those serving life imprisonment or on death row.
 
Andi Matalatta, the Justice and Human Rights minister, said about 64,000 inmates had their jail terms reduced on Friday, most by a few months, while about 6,000 were freed.
 
Three others convicted for the Bali bombings – Amrozi, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron – were sentenced to death over the attacks.
 
Their case is being reviewed by the supreme court.
Source:
Agencies
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