Main bomb maker of 2002 Bali bombings released early
Umar Patek, a convicted terrorist and the main bomb maker in the 2002 Bali bombings, has been released from jail.
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.
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.
"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.
Patek will be required to report to the parole office once a week, before it becomes once a month.
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.
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.
This saw Patek given a five-month reduction of his sentence after fulfilling the parole requirement of serving two-thirds of his current sentence
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.
"I feel a great deal of common distress, along with all Australians, at this time," Albanese said.
"We had been advised by the Indonesian government of this further reduction.
"This will cause further distress to Australians who were the families of victims of the Bali bombings."
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