Main bomb maker of 2002 Bali bombings released early
<p dir="ltr">Umar Patek, a convicted terrorist and the main bomb maker in the 2002 Bali bombings, has been released from jail.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Patek, a leading member of the al Qaida-linked network Jemaah Islamiyah, helped build the car bomb that killed more than 200 people, including two Kiwis and 88 Australians, at two nightclubs in Kuta Beach in 2002.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Patek served just over half of his original 20-year sentence and was released from jail after Indonesian authorities claimed that he was successfully reformed.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"The special requirements that have been met by Umar Patek are that he has participated in the de-radicalisation coaching program," Ministry of Law and Human Rights spokesperson Rika Aprianti said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Patek will be required to report to the parole office once a week, before it becomes once a month.</p>
<p dir="ltr">He is required to stay on parole until 2030, but his freedom can be revoked if he fails to report to the parole office or breaks the law.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During his jail stint, Patek received a total of 33 months of sentence reduction with the most recent one on August 17, Indonesia's Independence Day.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This saw Patek given a five-month reduction of his sentence after fulfilling the parole requirement of serving two-thirds of his current sentence</p>
<p dir="ltr">At the time of the reduced sentence, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will look at making "diplomatic representations" to oppose Patek’s release.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"I feel a great deal of common distress, along with all Australians, at this time," Albanese said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"We had been advised by the Indonesian government of this further reduction.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"This will cause further distress to Australians who were the families of victims of the Bali bombings."</p>
<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>
