Prosecutors demand death for Bali bombing suspect

INDONESIAN prosecutors yesterday demanded that the alleged mastermind of last year’s Bali bombings be sentenced to death.

The crowd of around 50 people in the court, including relatives of foreign victims of the October 12 attack, applauded when the sentence demand was read out.

Imam Samudra, a 33-year-old Islamic militant, has admitted to taking part in the blasts that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists enjoying an evening out in a nightclub.

"The accused has been proven to have committed an act of terrorism that caused massive casualties," said prosecutor I Nyoman Dila before urging judges to sentence Samudra to death. Samudra stroked his beard but remained silent when the demand was read out.

However, he yelled out "God is great. Islam will win." as police led him from the courtroom.

Two weeks ago, prosecutors demanded Amrozi bin Nurhasyim the first of more than 30 suspects to face trial also face the death penalty.

The suspects are accused of working for the al Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah terror group, which is alleged to be seeking an Islamic super state in south-east Asia.

Samudra has said he carried out the attack to avenge the deaths of Muslims by the US and its allies in Afghanistan and Palestine.