Reduction in Bali bombmaker’s sentence will cause distress, says Australian PM

Umar Patek, an Indonesian militant charged in the 2002 Bali terrorist attacks, left, sits with his lawyer during his trial in Jakarta, Indonesia (Tatan Syuflana/AP)

Australia’s leader has said it is upsetting that Indonesia has further reduced the prison sentence of the bombmaker in the Bali terror attack that killed 202 people – meaning the terrorist could be freed within days if he is granted parole.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had been told by Indonesian authorities that Umar Patek’s sentence had been reduced by another five months, taking his total reductions to almost two years.