Government Releases Bali Bomber On Parole

The Indonesia government has released an infamous bomb maker on parole, reports the Kyodo news agency (Tokyo).

Umar Patek, nicknamed “Demolition Man,” was released on Wednesday from Porong Prison in East Java province after completing half his 20-year sentence, a government spokeswoman said.

Patek, a former Islamic militant and member of the Jemaah Islamiyah group, was convicted of assembling bombs used to attack churches in Indonesia in December 2000, that killed 16 people, and the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202.

Patek will remain on parole until April 29, 2030, although it could be revoked should he violate its terms.

The government said that Patek “expressed regret” over his crimes and called him a prime example of the success of Indonesia’s deradicalization program.

Australia objected to the release, arguing that 88 of the victims of the Bali bombing were Australian.