Suspected Bali Bomb Mastermind Goes On Trial

The suspected mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people has gone on trial in Indonesia.

Umar Patek is accused of making the explosives used in the attacks on nightclubs at the resort of Kuta and other alleged acts of terrorism after being on the run for nine years.

The 45-year-old was captured in January, 2011, in Abbattobad - the same town in Pakistan where US Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden just a few months later.

Prosecutor Widodo Supriady told the Jakarta court: "Umar Patek committed an evil conspiracy with others to commit a crime by bringing in, obtaining, providing or owning firearms, ammunition or explosive materials and other dangerous materials to carry out terrorism."

The 30-page indictment also mentioned Patek's alleged involvement in terror-related activities in Aceh province and his role in the Bali bombings.

Patek, once the most wanted terror suspect in Indonesia, had a $1m (£640,000) bounty on his head under the US rewards for justice programme.

His trial opened amid tight security with police saying they had deployed specialist anti-terrorism and anti-mob units across the capital.

Patek, seated on a chair facing a panel of five judges, was flanked on his left by his lawyers and on his right by prosecutors.

He arrived at the court in a police armoured vehicle, escorted by armed police commandos.

The trial is expected to last over four months as prosecutors present evidence from 86 witnesses.

Three Indonesian Islamic militants - Imam Samudra, Amrozi Nurhasyim and Ali Ghufron (Mukhlas) - were executed in 2008 by firing squad for their part in the bombings.