Hambali Likely to Escape Prosecution For Bali Bombs: US Officials - The Jakarta Globe

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Hambali, the terrorist mastermind believed by experts to be behind the Bali bombings in 2002, is likely to escape prosecution for his role in the attacks, The Weekend Australian newspaper reported on Saturday.

Citing unnamed senior US officials, the newspaper wrote that military prosecutors lack the evidence to charge the terror suspect over the bombings of two Kuta nightclubs, which killed 202 people.

Authorities should be able to connect Hambali to other terrorist attacks in Indonesia, meaning he will remain in custody, but there is not enough evidence to charge him for the Bali attacks, the newspaper stated.

"As it stands now, the case against Hambali on Bali is weak," the newspaper quoted an unnamed US official as saying. "But the investigation has not stopped. It is ongoing."

Hambali, also known as Riduan Isamuddin, was arrested in 2003 in Thailand as part of a US antiterror operation.

Terrorism experts have said that Hambali likely provided a large amount of funds for the Bali attack and acted as a treasurer for Islamic militant group Jemaah Islamiyah.