JURIST - Paper Chase: Alleged Jemaah Islamiyah leader denies links to Indonesia terror bombings

[JURIST] One of two alleged leaders of the Southeast Asian terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) [CFR backgrounder; JURIST news archive] Wednesday denied involvement in a series of 2002 Bali night club bombings [GlobalSecurity backgrounder; JURIST news archive] and other attacks allegedly committed by JI. At trial, Abu Dujana [BBC profile] blamed the media for spreading rumors that he was connected with the terror attacks. He and fellow alleged JI figure Zarkasih [BBC profile] first went to trial [JURIST report] in December on charges of training and equipping JI members and conspiracy to commit terrorism. Last week, Indonesian prosecutors recommended [JURIST report] that Zarkasih and Abu Dujana receive life sentences if convicted and asked the court to officially outlaw the group. It is not yet clear when the trial will conclude.

Dujana, who was arrested [JURIST report] in June, previously confessed to leading the JI's military wing, which has claimed responsibility for the 2004 bombing of the Australian embassy [BBC report] in Jakarta and a series of 2005 Bali bombings [BBC report]. On Wednesday, he said this admission was made under duress. Reuters has more.

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