Bali Bombing ‘Mastermind’ Extradited from Pakistan
An alleged mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings was extradited from Pakistan to Indonesia on Thursday, after his arrest in the town where Osama bin Laden was killed, a security official said.
Indonesia’s counter-terrorism agency chief Ansyaad Mbai confirmed that Umar Patek had arrived under tight security after an overnight flight from Pakistan, and ahead of an expected trial on terrorism-related charges.
“He’s been detained at a detention facility… He’s a very important suspect. It’s hard to rank him but you can say he’s a big fish,” Mbai said.
Patek is expected to face trial over attacks including the Bali bombings that killed 202 people and Christmas Eve church bombings that killed 19 people in 2000, the counter-terrorism chief said.
“We still have to investigate further but it’s likely he will be charged over the Christmas bombings and the Bali bombings, as well as others,” Mbai said, adding that Patek had confessed to involvement in both attacks.
The fatalities in the bombings of tourist bars and nightclubs in Bali, which thrust Indonesia into the front lines of the “war on terror,” included 88 Australian holidaymakers.
Police say Patek, 41, worked closely with the attack’s mastermind, Indonesian extremist Dulmatin, and built the massive bombs that flattened several buildings in Kuta.
Officials said murder could be the most serious crime he is charged with, as his alleged crimes were committed before the country passed tough anti-terrorism law. Even so, he could still face the death penalty.
Source: TheBaliTimes
