Indonesia frees bali bomb convict on I-Day

JAKARTA: An Islamic militant convicted for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings walked free from his Indonesian prison on Thursday, while 11 others jailed in connection to the blasts received remissions to mark Independence Day.

Puryanto had his sentence cut by three months, meaning that he had almost completed the five-year term in Balikpapan prison on the Borneo island. "He got a remission and he is now free," said Suiarno, a prison official.

Two other militants jailed in Balikpapan in connection with the bombings which killed 202 people received remissions of four months each, another official said. An official at Kerobokan jail on Bali island said that nine militants convicted over the 2002 attacks, known locally as Bali bomb blasts, received cuts of four months each.

"Out of all the convicts in Kerobokan prison that received remissions, nine Bali bomb blasts convicts received remissions," said Ilham Djaya, governor of Bali's main prison.

Puryanto and the 11 other militants all played relatively minor roles in the 2002 attacks, such as giving shelter to the key bombers and attending meetings at which the bombing was discussed. 

However the remissions are likely to anger Australia, which lost 88 nationals in the devastating attack on two nightspots. Indonesia typically grants sentence cuts of up to six months twice a year, once to mark Independence Day every August 17, and another to mark major religious holidays.

Remissions are given to all prisoners who have shown good conduct except for those on death row and serving life sentences. Three of the 2002 Bali bomb ringleaders are awaiting execution.