Witness tells court he detonated one of Bali bombs

6.00pm

BALI, Indonesia - A militant Indonesian Muslim told a court on Wednesday he detonated one of the bombs on Bali island last October and he received money from a key suspect in the atrocity that killed 202 people, mainly foreign tourists.

Appearing in court for the first time since his arrest last month, Idris, also known as Jhoni Hendrawan, echoed the sentiments of other self-confessed bombers in calling the attack a warning to the United States.

Idris said he was responsible for a device which exploded near the US consulate in Bali on the night of October 12. That blast, one of three, wounded no one.

"Yes, I exploded that bomb with a handphone," he said.

"This was a reminder to the infidels. The masterminds of attacks on Muslims are indeed Americans. At that time, it was believed many Americans, white people, were in Bali."

Idris was giving testimony in the trial of Mukhlas, a 43-year-old Indonesian preacher who is charged with plotting, organising and carrying out terror crimes.

Mukhlas is the alleged operations chief of Jemaah Islamiah, a Southeast Asian militant Muslim group which Jakarta has blamed for the attacks.

Prosecutors say Mukhlas was in overall charge of the blasts, although he has retracted statements to police admitting a role in the operation which he says were made under duress.

Idris said he received money from Mukhlas, which was used to buy the minivan that became a massive car bomb that did most of the damage when it exploded in Bali's packed nightclub district.

Idris added he was involved in surveying the targets and witnessed the making of the bombs. He said one man who took part in the construction was a Malaysian electronics expert called Azahari. Police have accused Azahari of designing the car bomb. Idris said he asked God for forgiveness after the bombings, although he did not elaborate. He also said he had been a member of Jemaah Islamiah for 10 years.

More than 30 Indonesian militants have been arrested over Bali, with several key suspects already on trial. The main ones face the death penalty if convicted.

Idris was captured on June 12 on Sumatra island.

The first verdict, that of Amrozi, Mukhlas' brother, will be announced on August 7. Prosecutors have demanded he be executed.

- REUTERS

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