‘Utterly abominable’: Tom Elliott slams Indonesian government

Tom Elliott says the Indonesian government’s decision to release the main bombmaker in the 2002 Bali bombings from jail early is “utterly abominable” and has left him appalled.

The 3AW Drive host said it beggars belief, given drug smugglers are executed, yet convicted terrorists responsible for the death of more than 200 people are released from jail early.

“If that is not hypocrisy on a grand scale, I don’t know what is,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear Tom Elliott’s editorial

Umar Patek has been released from jail.

He helped build the car bomb that that killed more than 200 people in the nightclub attacks, including 88 Australians, but only served just over half of his original 20-year sentence.

Tim Lindsey, director of the centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society, told Tom Elliott Indonesia had taken a “carrot and stick” approach to terrorism.

“Patek has been singled out because he is seen as a reformed terrorist and is used as the poster boy for other militants to show if you reform, if you support the Indonesian state, you will get the benefits and they will issue their discretion in your favour,” he said.

Press PLAY below to hear his analysis