(31 May 2012) The Indonesian militant Umar Patek attended the West Jakarta District Court on Thursday to read his final defence, in which he denied major involvement in the 2002 Bali nightclub attacks.
Earlier this month, prosecutors said Patek, should spend the rest of his life in prison for helping to build the car bomb used in the Bali attacks.
"I did not make a car bomb, vest bomb, or bomb package. My role in the Bali bombing was merely helping Sawad Aka Sarjio in mixing the explosives which was less than fifty kilograms," said Patek, whose real name is Hisyam bin Alizein.
Sarjio, also known as Sawad, has already been found guilty of helping organise planning meetings and preparing the explosives.
Patek, a leading member of the al-Qaida-linked network Jemaah Islamiyah, is the last key suspect to be tried in the blasts that killed 202 people.
Many of the victims were foreign tourists, including 88 Australians and seven Americans.
Lead prosecutor has told the West Jakarta District Court the 45-year-old militant should get a life term.
He said Patek was guilty of illegal weapons possession, helping and concealing militant acts, immigration violations and premeditated murder.
Patek, who was arrested last year in Pakistan, has denied playing a major role in assembling the massive car bomb that was the largest bomb used in the attack.
He said that job fell to Jemaah Islamiyah bomb-making masterminds, Azahari bin Husin and Dulmatin, both of whom have since been killed in police raids.
The militant also has insisted he was against the bombings from the start but didn't dare to speak out.
They were meant, in theory, to avenge Western policies in the Palestinian territories.
Patek has said he saw no connection between the original mission, fighting against the oppression of fellow Muslims, and the target, partying tourists.
A verdict is not expected until next month and judges can ignore the recommendation.
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has been hit by a string of attacks targeting a restaurants, glitzy hotels and a Western embassy since the Oct. 12, 2002, attack.
But all have been far less deadly, in part, security experts say, because a relentless crackdown on Jemaah Islamiyah has largely decimated its ranks.
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