Bali bombing convict to be freed

An Islamic militant convicted over the 2002 Bali bombings will be released from prison tomorrow and 10 others are likely to have their sentences reduced to mark Indonesia’s independence day, prison and justice ministry officials said.

It is an Indonesian tradition to cut jail terms on holidays, but the decision is expected to anger countries that lost citizens in the twin Bali nightclub attacks that killed 202 people, many of them foreign tourists.

Three militants serving time in East Kalimantan’s capital of Balikpapan are due to receive reductions of four months, paving the way for one, Puryanto, to walk free, said Edi, a prison official who uses a single name.

Eight others in the main prison on Bali island are expected to receive sentence reductions of one to six months, said Anak Agung Mayun Mataram, a justice ministry official.