Keeping 72 Virgins Waiting

(12/9/2006)

As reported on balidiscovery.com, [Time and Patience Running Out for Bali Bombers] Indonesia's Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh had told the 3 convicted Bali Bombers to be prepared to face the firing squad if no final appeal was made in their case before December 31, 2006

Imam Samudra, and Ali Ghufron – also known as "The Bali Bombers" are all under death sentences imposed by the Bali Courts for their pivotal roles in the October 12, 2002 bombing of two Bali night spots that resulted in 202 deaths.

On Wednesday, December 6, 2006 the three's legal team filed a formal appeal with the Denpasar District Court seeking a judicial review of their clients' convictions on the basis that terrorism law used to indict in the case was used retroactively and did not exists at the time of the October 12, 2002 bombing. Upon formal receipt of the appeal, a team of leading judges from the Bali court were appointed to draft a legal response.

Keeping the Virgins at Bay

Meanwhile, a former defense counsel for the Bali Bombers, attorney I Made Suryawan, claimed the three were prepared to meet their fate.

"Amrozy should be a man and receive his death sentence," said Suryawan who depicted the final appeal process as a normal part of the cautious processing of a capital offense execution.

Suryawan said that Amrozy was already prepared to die during the period of the trial when he still represented him. Explained Suryawan: "I still remember when I represented Amrozy that he (was certain) that when executed he would be greeted in heaven by a group of virgins. So its time Amrozy meets those virgins in heaven. The means: the carrying out of the death sentence."

Suryawana also questioned if the defense team for the three still held valid powers of attorney enabling them to file an appeal on behalf of the three.