Australians Appalled at Early Release of Bali Bomb Maker, Government Seeks Assurances

Convicted bombmaker Umar Patek walks into the court room during verdict trial on June 21, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Patek was convicted of assembling the explosives that killed 202 people in Bali on Christmas Eve 2002. (Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)

The Australian government has sought for assurances from the Indonesian government that the bomb maker of the 2002 Bali terrorist attacks will be subject to continued supervision after he was released on parole on Dec. 7.

In 2012, Umar Patek was sentenced to 20 years in jail after he was found guilty of being the bomb maker for Indonesian-based Islamic extremist group Jemaah Islamiyah, which were behind the attacks.

He received 33 months of sentence reductions and was released after serving just half of the jail time.

The attacks at two nightclubs on Oct. 12, 2002, killed over 200 people, including 88 Australians.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said it was a “very difficult day” for Australians to hear about Patek’s release, particularly for the surviving family and friends of those killed and injured in the bombings.

“I’m particularly thinking right now of the families of those who were killed and injured in the Bali bombings,” he told the ABC.

“We’ve made repeated representations to the Indonesian government about the early release of Umar Patek, and we will continue to make repeated representations to the Indonesian Government about making sure that there is constant surveillance of Umar Patek.”

Energy Minister Chris Bowen said it was important to maintain strong dialogue between the two governments to enable continued vigorous representation to the Indonesian government.

“We understand that Indonesia says that in his time in prison, he has been deradicalised, and of course, that can happen. But of course, that’s one of the things that we’ll be engaging in with the Indonesian government about—seeking those reassurances,” he said in response to concerns that Patek could be re-radicalised.

Bowen said Indonesia understood Australia’s keen interest in the matter as they also lost 38 Indonesians to the attacks.

“Now we are dealing with the ramifications together. Understanding and respecting that Indonesia has their own legal system,” he said. “Indonesia’s legal system does tend to lead to long sentences with early release.”

Australia Appealed Against Early Release

Bombing survivor Jan Laczynski said he felt distraught and shocked at Patek’s early release, calling the decision “appalling.”

“I still can’t understand how this person that created so much loss of life and not just for 88 Australians—202 people—could be walking free,” he told Nine’s Today Show. “I can’t understand it.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was informed of Patek’s early release in August, when he said he had “nothing but contempt” for the terrorist actions that Patek engaged in.

“We have been advised, we'll continue to make representations in Australia’s national interest,” he said.

Patek’s Involvement

Patek, 55, was dubbed the “demolition man,” while his real name is Hisyam Bin Alizein.

He was found guilty by the West Jakarta District Court for his involvement in the building of a large car bomb that was detonated at a popular nightclub in Kuta.

He left the country shortly before the attacks were carried out and went on the run for nine years before he was found in Pakistani town of Abbottabad in 2012, where Osama Bin Laden was killed months later.

During his time on the run, he allegedly joined Abu Sayyaf in the Phillipines, also an Islamic extremist group.

Three other men involved in the bombings were executed by Bali authorities, while another suspect was killed in a shoot out with Indonesian police.