Death sentence for Bali bombing co-ordinator
The co-ordinator behind last year’s Bali bombings has been sentenced to death.
Mukhlas, also known as Ali Gufron, a 43-year-old Islamic teacher is thought to be the mind behind the bombings, although he denies taking any part in the actual attack and was not in Bali on the night of 12 October 2002 when they occurred.
Prosecutors believe that he organised and ran preparatory meetings and approved the targets for the attack. Judges in the case said the charges against him were ‘legally and convincingly proven’ and sentenced him to death by firing squad.
Mukhlas has admitted being involved in the attacks and says he gave the bombers religious guidance. He has announced that he will appeal his sentence.
His brother, Amrozi, has also been sentenced to death, as has Imam Samudra, a so-called ‘field commander’ in the attacks. More than a dozen other men are facing long jail sentences for their involvement.
The Bali bombings have been blamed on Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a south-east Asian militant group which is said to have links with Osama Bin Laden’s al-Qaeda network. Over 200 people died in the attacks.
