Australia would leave no stone unturned in pushing Indonesia to lay fresh charges against a militant Muslim after he was acquitted of involvement in the 2002 Bali bombings, Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday.

Idris, alias Jhoni Hendrawan, was sentenced on Tuesday to 10 years jail for the 2003 bombing of the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, but acquitted on a terrorism charge relating to the Bali blasts that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. In acquitting Idris, the Indonesian court cited a July constitutional court ruling that annulled a law allowing anti-terror legislation to be used retrospectively in the Bali case and that has already been used to convict several people.

Howard said he was concerned the court ruling that allowed Idris to be acquitted would also be used by others to successfully appeal their Bali bombing convictions.

“We will continue to put all the legitimate pressure we can on the Indonesian government to make certain that these people remain in jail, remain punished and remain fully accountable before the law”, Howard told Australian radio.

“I can promise the families of the victims that no stone will be left unturned by my government to see that these people remain behind bars”, he said.

More than 40 people have been convicted of the Bali and Marriott bombings, which are both believed to be the work of the militant Jemaah Islamiah network. A suicide bomber blew up a van packed with explosives outside the Marriott, killing 12 people.

Successful appeal by those convicted

While Indonesian court and justice ministry officials said the July ruling did not affect cases already decided, other legal experts think it could open the way for successful appeals by those convicted, including those on death row.

Brian Deegan, whose son Josh was killed in the Bali nightclub blasts, said Idris’ acquittal was not unexpected but was still devastating. “There’s a very real possibility that all those that were accused and convicted may now walk free”, Deegan said.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said it was important all those involved in the Bali bombings be brought to justice, including Idris, who Downer said had confessed to his role in the attacks.

“All those people responsible for the Bali bombing should be in jail and should serve appropriate sentences for what they have done,” Downer told reporters on Wednesday.

“The Indonesian attorney-general has made it clear that the Indonesian government shares our determination to ensure that all those responsible for killing Australians, and others in Bali, will serve their sentences and will face justice”, he said.

Downer said he would speak to his Indonesian counterpart about Idris later on Wednesday.

Australia’s opposition Labor leader Mark Latham also called for Indonesia to lay fresh Bali bombing charges against Idris.

Indonesian police said on Tuesday they would charge militant Muslim preacher Abu Bakar Bashir, the suspected leader of Jemaah Islamiah, with involvement in terror crimes, including the Marriott bombing. Bashir denies the existence of Jemaah Islamiah and allegations of his involvement in militant attacks.

<B>Michelle Nichols</B>