The Australian government has made representations to the Indonesian government that Bali bomber Umar Patek be monitored after his release from jail just over halfway through his 20-year sentence.
The main bombmaker in the 2002 Bali bombings has been released on parole after serving 10 years in a Java prison for his role in the terror attack.
Patek was part of the Al Qa’ida-linked group that detonated a bomb in the Sari nightclub – killing 202 people, including 88 Australians.
“I am horrified that he is being released,” Energy Minister Chris Bowen told Sunrise on Thursday morning.
He said the Albanese government was in discussions with the Indonesian government over Patek’s release.
“We do understand Indonesia’s legal system is different to ours and we have to respect that, but at the same time we have to make strong representations to the Indonesian government to ensure all the necessary protections and monitoring are in place.” he said.
“This is a terrible man who do terrible things not only to Australians but to Indonesians as well.”
Patek was released from prison in Surabaya at 8am (0100 GMT) Wednesday after fulfilling all the requirements of his parole and being cited for “good behaviour”.
He was captured in 2011 in Abbottabad, Pakistan after nearly a decade on the run with a $1m reward on his head.
