Bali Suspect Says Made Up Comments on Muslim Cleric

Thursday, June 19, 2003

(08:13:41 GMT)

By Telly Nathalia & Achmad Sukarsono

Reuters

The case is a test of Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri's will to curb Islamic radicalism in the world's most populous Muslim nation, while ensuring Indonesian justice is seen to be fair, an important challenge ahead of next year's presidential election.

JAKARTA -- Reuters
A self-confessed participant in last year's bomb attack on Indonesia's Bali island said on Thursday he made up some statements linking him to a militant Muslim cleric after his brother was tortured.

Amrozi was testifying in the treason trial of charismatic preacher Abu Bakar Bashir, suspected of heading a Southeast Asian network of radical Muslims.

Bashir has denied the existence of the network, Jemaah Islamiah, as well as involvement in any bombings including those in Bali's famed Kuta beach strip which killed more than 200 people last October.

Asked about statements to police that he had attended sermons given by Bashir in Malaysia, Amrozi said: "That's not true. I just made that up."

Asked why, he said: "I saw my brother being tortured. I was also threatened." Amrozi was referring to his elder brother Mukhlas, who is also an accused in the Bali bombing along with a third brother.

"My big brother told the doctor that hot water was poured on him. His genitals were swollen and looked burnt. He told me to give the interrogators what they wanted to hear because he thought I was not as strong as he was," Amrozi said.
(More: AlertNet.org)
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Dan