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07/24/2004:

"Ruling throws doubt on Bali convictions"

The convictions of the 32 men linked to the Bali bombing were thrown into significant doubt yesterday after an Indonesian court ruled that the anti-terrorism law used to prosecute them was applied unconstitutionally.

The constitutional court's decision that the legislation passed after the terrorist strike on the resort island cannot be applied retroactively will also complicate attempts to prosecute the alleged Islamist militant leader Abu Bakar Ba'aysir, who is awaiting charge.

Verdicts from other tribunals which are using retroactive legislation, such as the one prosecuting those allegedly involved in the carnage in East Timor in 1999, may also be called into question.

Full Article : guardian.co.uk