25 March 2008

Bali bombers may fight on after appeal loss

DENPASAR Ã¢â¬' Confusion continues to surround the fate of three Bali bombers despite this weekÃ¢â¬â¢s decision to abort their final appeals.

The bombers have been on death row over the 2002 bombings but were looking for a Supreme Court review of their sentences.

AAP reported that their lawyer, Fahmi Bachmid, withdrew from their last-ditch legal appeal, bringing it to an abrupt end.

Denpasar District Court had held three separate judicial review hearings, one for each of the three terrorists: Amrozi Nurhasyim; his brother Ali Ghufron (alias Mukhlas); and Imam Samudra.

The trio played key roles in the Bali nightclub bombings on October 12, 2002, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

The court ruled against the bombersÃ¢â¬â¢ plea to testify in Bali or to have the appeal held in Cilacap District Court, off central Java, closer to their island prison.

Attorney-General's Office spokesman BD Nainggolan said the three could still submit an appeal for clemency.

"If they don't submit the clemency (request), then the process of execution could be started.

"We don't know when this process will start because we haven't received the report from Bali."