Lawyers for Accused Bali Bomber Hambali Fight for Access to Imam Samudra’s Testimony

Hambali, the Malaysian head of Jemaah Islamiah, an Al Qaeda-linked terror group, is accused of orchestrating the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. While Imam Samudra, one of the convicted Bali bombers, initially denied any knowledge of Hambali’s involvement, Indonesian investigators have never doubted Hambali’s guilt. Hambali is facing charges related to the Bali bombings and the Marriott Hotel bombing in Jakarta the following year that killed 12 people. His lead defense counsel, Jim Hodes, believes that access to Imam Samudra’s testimony and other investigative case files from Indonesian and Australian police could help prove his innocence. However, the US Military Commission has denied the defense team’s access to these records citing security review. Hodes argues that the lack of access is “mind-boggling” and that the defense team may push to have the trial relocated to Indonesia.