Bali Bombers Testify in Ba'asyir's Trial

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, May 28, 2003

Bali Bombers Testify in Ba'asyir's Trial

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Four key suspects in the Bali bombings on Wednesday appeared in court to testify in the trial against Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir who is said to be the leader of terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

The Central Jakarta District Court presented Ali Imron, Ali Ghufron, Imam Samudera and Hutomo Pamungkas to clarify whether Ba'asyir was the "emir" (leader) of JI, a shadowy group of Muslim militants in Southeast Asia blamed by Singapore and Malaysia for attempting to carry out bomb attacks in the region.

Imron was the first to deliver his testimony, saying firmly he is a member of JI but failed to explain the organizational structure and membership of JI.

Imron, who has confessed to constructing the bombs used in Bali,said "based on my 'feeling,' Abu Bakar Ba'asyir is the current leader of Jemaah Islamiyah replacing the late Abdullah Sungkar." He did not give further details.

Defense lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said the court should not accept a testimony based merely on someone's feeling without empirical evidence.

Ba'asyir, 64, is charged with treason and immigration offenses.He told the judge panel at the makeshift courtroom in meteorology and geophysics agency's compound that he rejected Imron's testimony.

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