Eight Years For Bali Bombing Accomplice

But remember, it's just a few bad apples. A few bad apples that seem to control the entire prosecutorial, judicial, and governmental apparati of Indonesia.

There is a mitigating factor. The asshole in question was not a central part of the bombers' clacque. However, he was a member of the terrorist group in question and... well, you'll see.

AN Indonesian computer teacher has been sentenced to just eight years' jail for his involvement in last year's Bali bomb attacks, despite being found guilty of posting a triumphant declaration of responsibility for the event on his website half an hour before the atrocity.

Judges declared that Abdul Aziz's relative youth - he turns 31 next week - and repentant attitude called for a lenient sentence, although prosecutors had demanded at least 10 years.

Prosecutor Olopan Nainggolan said afterwards he was "satisfied" with the decision but conceded he would consult with his superiors on an appeal.

Chief Judge I Nyoman Gede Wirya found that Aziz had been a member of terrorist organisation Jemaah Islamiah since 1995 and that he had posted an anti-Western rant by senior JI figure Noordin Mohammad Top on the www.anshar.net website shortly before the Bali attacks on October 1 last year.

That website, which Top had ordered Aziz to construct, also featured instructions on how to hunt down and kill Westerners in major metropolitan areas such as Jakarta.

Aziz's lawyer, Zulfikar Ramli, said yesterday he would consider an appeal based on his client having been found guilty of the wrong crime.

Mr Ramli said Aziz should only have been found guilty of not revealing the bombers' plans, rather than being tried as one of the central group of plotters in the attacks.

"Relative youth." He was 28 or so.

"Youths."

If you're part of a conspiracy, you're liable for the acts committed by your fellow conspirators in furtherance of a conspiracy.

But I guess things work differently when the conspirators number in the millions.

posted by Ace at 05:43 PM

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