BALI, Indonesia, 19 September 2003 — Ali Imron, who made a tearful apology for his key role in last year’s Bali terror attacks, was spared the firing squad when an Indonesian court sentenced him to life in prison yesterday.
He had admitted building one of the two bombs that ripped through the Sari Club and Paddy’s Bar on Oct. 12, killing 202 people, mostly foreign tourists. He also drove a bomb-laden minivan to the site of the attack. His sentence was more than a 20-year term demanded by state prosecutors for the atrocity — the worst terror strike since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Two other bombers, including Imron’s brother, are awaiting execution after they defiantly showed no remorse. During their earlier trials they said they were happy to become martyrs in their fight against the United States and its allies.
“Ali Imron has been found guilty in a legal and convincing manner of terrorism,” said Judge Mulyani, who read out the verdict.
Mulyani said the five-judge panel took into consideration Imron’s apology and his cooperation with authorities, including testifying against other Bali defendants.
“He has been helpful... he shows remorse and he has instructed his students and family not to follow the path of violence as he has done,” Mulyani said in his summation.
“But his crime is extraordinary. Not only has he been responsible for killing 202 people but his crime has had far-reaching effects on the community.”
Imron told the court he was considering appealing the verdict. The 33-year old Islamic boarding school teacher was arrested in January. Shortly after his arrest, Imron gave a news conference in which he apologized to the victims’ families and showed how he and others allegedly assembled the explosives. During his trial, he broke down in tears several times and said he believed the attacks were not in accordance with Islamic teachings.
