15 years for militant over Bali bombings

An Indonesian court sentenced an al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militant to 15 years in prison yesterday for his role in 2002 bombings that killed more than 200 people on Bali.

The blasts at two bars packed with foreign tourists remain the deadliest-ever strikes in Indonesia.

Zulkarnaen, 58, a high-ranking member of the Jemaah Islamiyah group, was convicted of terrorism for the bombings and other attacks.

He evaded authorities until his arrest in December 2020.

Prosecutors said Zulkarnaen set up a special JI cell and was a "key asset" after being a trainer at militant camps in Afghanistan and the Philippines.

Zulkarnaen denied involvement in the Bali bombings but admitted they were carried out by his team.

The court also flagged other attacks by Zulkarnaen's cell during the sentencing, including a 2000 attack on the Philippines embassy in Jakarta and church bombings.

Zulkarnaen, who appeared in court via a video link because of coronavirus rules, had a bounty of up to US$5 million (HK$38.9 million) on his head from the United States.