Indonesian jailed for Bali bombing starts coffee business, Asia News

SURABAYA, Indonesia - An Indonesian convicted in the deadly 2002 Bali nightclub bombings has launched his own coffee business after being released on parole, and has said he will use some of the earnings to help survivors of the attacks.
Umar Patek, a member of the al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah group, was jailed for 20 years in 2012 after he was found guilty of making bombs that ripped through two Bali nightclubs, killing 202 people, including 88 Australians and 38 Indonesians. He was released on parole in 2022 and has apologised to the victims.
Patek's release sparked anger in Australia and Indonesia.
At the launch of the coffee business on Tuesday (June 3), a banner with Patek's face festooned a cafe in the Indonesian city of Surabaya on Java island. It is owned by dentist David Andreasmito and will use the beans Patek supplies and roasts.
"I was still shell-shocked by the outside world," Patek said, adding he had trouble finding work after his release and was worried his image would affect the business.
"The stigma of a former terrorism convict made it hard for me to find work," he said.
Patek said he understood that many people were still angry with him but pleaded to them "not to let that doubt stick", adding he would give portions of his earnings to survivors.
David said he went into business with Patek because he had apologised and wanted people to give him a second chance.
Since Patek's release, Indonesian authorities have highlighted him as an example of the deradicalisation efforts launched by the world's most populous Muslim-majority country to counter a resurgence in Islamic militancy.
Chusnul Chotimah, a survivor of the Bali attacks who is covered in burn scars and says she struggles to pay for life-saving treatments, jostled in front of the crowd to speak to Patek at the launch.
"I used to have grudges against you," she said. "I forgive you for what you did. I know you've changed for the better."
Chusnul later said she hoped Patek could help out the survivors. "Don't just say sorry," she said.
Tumini, another survivor, said in Bali's capital Denpasar that she is still struggling to pay for her treatment and that government aid should be prioritised for victims still in recovery.
[[nid:714944]]

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Straits Times

2 hours ago

• Straits Times

Sign of sovereignty: Prabowo skips G-7 for Russia, drawing scrutiny over Indonesia's neutrality

JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's decision to skip the recent Group of Seven (G-7) summit in favour of visiting Russia was not a blunt snub to the West, but a clear signal of his assertive and personalised approach to foreign policy, analysts said. The move underlined Jakarta's intent to chart a more independent course and elevate its diplomatic profile, the experts noted. But they cautioned that leaning too visibly towards Moscow could cast doubt on Indonesia's longstanding commitment to neutrality, especially amid deepening global divides. 'This is a signal of sovereignty – that Indonesia does not want to be tied to one power,' Dr Hendra Manurung, a lecturer in defence diplomacy at the Indonesia Defence University, told The Straits Times. He said the Russia visit reflects Jakarta's broader strategy of agile, multipolar diplomacy – maintaining relations with all major powers rather than aligning with one camp. Dr Fitriani Bintang Timur, a defence analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said India offers a useful parallel. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2024, but India remains part of the Quad – a grouping that also includes the US, Japan and Australia – which has condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 'I think Modi-like engagement is something that Prabowo is striving for Indonesia to broaden the country's partnership reach beyond the traditionally western region, ' she told ST. Indonesia is not a member of the G-7 – comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the US – but had been invited as a guest. Russia, once part of the grouping, was expelled in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea. 'Mr Prabowo's move to visit Russia instead of G-7 may certainly raise some eyebrows. Geopolitical signalling matters, particularly in this era of heightened competition between global powers. Indonesia, at the very least, should have sent a representative to G-7 if possible,' said Mr Pieter Pandie, an international relations researcher at the Jakarta-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies. 'It signals Prabowo's more personal and hands-on approach to foreign affairs, differing significantly from his predecessor (Joko Widodo) , who was mostly uninterested in foreign affairs and was comfortable in leaving it in the hands of the Foreign Ministry,' Mr Pieter told ST. Analysts, however, noted that in May , Mr Prabowo separately hosted Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Emmanuel Macron of France – a G-7 member – in Jakarta, reflecting that his ties with the West remain intact. He also had a phone call with US President Donald Trump on June 12. Beyond great power politics, the visit to Russia also showed Indonesia's quiet support for Iran and the Palestinians amid the Middle East conflict, the analysts said. While not explicitly articulated, the visit was seen as reinforcing Indonesia's solidarity with countries critical of Israel, noted Dr Hendra. 'Besides bilateral ties, the bigger point is to show that in the current geopolitical situation, Indonesia wants to support Iran in its war with Israel, and also show support for Palestine,' he said. Dr Fitriani added: 'I think one of the reasons why Prabowo didn't go to the G-7 was because of the concern over conflict in the Middle East as the G-7 members mostly supported Israel.' While in Russia from June 18-20 , Mr Prabowo met Mr Putin and delivered a keynote speech at the annual St Petersburg International Economic Forum, where the Indonesian leader clarified that his decision to skip the G-7 summit was not due to disrespect, but because of an earlier commitment to attend the forum. 'So please do not read too much into the event… Indonesia, by tradition, has always been non-aligned. We respect all countries. Our foreign policy is very simple – one phrase: a thousand friends are too few, one enemy is too many. We want to be friends with everybody,' he said. 'One of the big mistakes of many countries in South-east Asia is that we tend to always follow the biggest and the most powerful power in the world.' Mr Prabowo said the world must shift from a unipolar to a multipolar order. He also expressed respect for the leadership of Russia and China. The two countries 'have never had double standards', he said. 'Russia and China have always defended the oppressed, (they) have always fought for the justice of all peoples of the world.' During the visit, Mr Putin described Indonesia as one of Russia's 'key partners' in the Asia-Pacific and reaffirmed support for Jakarta's full membership in the Brics grouping, which took effect earlier this year. The grouping, which also comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, aims to strengthen cooperation among emerging economies and amplify the influence of the Global South. Mr Prabowo and Mr Putin signed a declaration on strategic partnership, formalising closer ties. Russia offered to boost oil and liquefied natural gas supplies to Indonesia. A 2 billion euro (S$2.97 billion) investment fund was also announced between Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara and the Russian Direct Investment Fund. Dr Fitriani noted that Mr Prabowo visited Beijing in November 2024 and signed deals worth about US$10 billion (S$12.87 billion) , demonstrating his willingness to engage with countries based on economic interests.'This shows a pattern of Prabowo following the money,' she said. One notable offer from Russia was in nuclear cooperation. 'We are open to cooperation with Indonesian partners in the nuclear field. We also wish to implement peaceful nuclear projects,' including in healthcare, agriculture and training of human resources, Mr Putin said in a joint statement after his meeting with Mr Prabowo on June 19. Indonesia plans to add nuclear power to its energy mix, with a small-scale plant slated to begin operations by 2032 as part of its push towards net-zero emissions. The Prabowo administration has also announced plans to open the door to foreign investors to help develop 75 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity over the next 14 years. Analysts said Russia's offer reflects the country's intent to deepen its footprint in South-east Asia and aligns with Mr Prabowo's push for energy resilience. Dr Hendra noted that while Russia has shown interest in nuclear cooperation, Indonesia must proceed cautiously as accepting such an offer could unsettle its neighbours. 'Russia made such an offer to show it wants to increase its presence in South-east Asia, but any real development depends on formal agreements. For now, it's likely a no,' he said. Mr Pieter called the proposal 'certainly significant' but added that 'how it will play out concretely is difficult to gauge', adding that Indonesia must tread carefully in dealing with major powers to avoid appearing biased towards any side. Dr Fitriani warned that nuclear cooperation remains politically sensitive. 'Indonesia doesn't want to be the next Iran that the world fears for its lack of transparency in managing nuclear energy capabilities,' she said. Still, Mr Prabowo's engagement with Russia – and his silence on Ukraine – could risk undermining Jakarta's neutrality in the eyes of Western partners. Mr Pieter said Mr Prabowo's visit was a win for Russia, as it signalled that some countries are still willing to engage with Moscow despite Western sanctions and condemnation over its invasion of Ukraine. 'Indonesia has always emphasised its commitment to international law, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. By being seen as tilting to Moscow, some may question Indonesia's commitment to those values and norms,' he added. Dr Fitriani noted that 'Mr Prabowo risked signalling tacit approval or at least indifference towards Russia's invasion of Ukraine.' She said the Indonesian leader should now seek to rebalance ties, including by visiting G-7 countries or hosting international meetings that affirm Indonesia's commitment to global norms. 'President Prabowo needs to show that he leads Indonesia based on values,' she added. Arlina Arshad is The Straits Times' Indonesia bureau chief. She is a Singaporean who has been living and working in Indonesia as a journalist for more than 15 years. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Straits Times

13 hours ago

• Straits Times

Armed men on motorbikes kill 34 Niger soldiers, ministry says

NIAMEY - Several hundred armed men, many on motorbikes, attacked a Niger army base near the border with Mali, leaving at least 34 soldiers dead and 14 wounded, the Defence Ministry said. The attackers - described as "mercenaries" by the ministry - used eight vehicles and more than 200 motorbikes in the raid on the base in Bani-bangou on Thursday, according to the statement read out on state TV. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack on the army base in a statement on its Telegram channel on Friday. Niger, like other countries in West Africa's Sahel region, is battling Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. Troops carried out aerial and ground search operations to secure the area after the attack, the ministry said without going into more detail on the assault. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Business Times

a day ago

• Business Times

Singapore's banking hub has a busy corner where cash is still king

[SINGAPORE] In the heart of Singapore, a financial hub where billions of dollars zip around the world over computer screens in nanoseconds, there's a crowded building where cash still reigns. Six days a week, hundreds of people line up in a rundown mall abutting Raffles Place square to buy and sell hard currency at one of around 30 money changer stalls. All manner of notes can be had in minutes: Singapore dollars for British pounds? Coming right up. Indonesian rupiah for Vietnamese dong? Icelandic krona? Maldivian rufiyaa? No problem. Some 150 currencies are available. 'Cash will remain forever,' said Abdul Haleem, 65, a veteran of the industry whose kiosk sits at the entrance to the narrow, three-storey plaza called The Arcade. The towering offices of global banking giants JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of China are just steps away. The number of licensed money changers in Singapore dropped during the Covid-19 pandemic when many people were unable to travel and retail shops struggled to pay rent. But there are close to 250 physical stalls still operating, and new ones continue to spring up across the city-state. That's even though multi-currency payment apps such as YouTrip, Wise and Revolut have grown in popularity. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up To understand how so many cash dealers can survive the digital age, you need to know a bit about Singapore's place in the world. While it's now among the richest countries – where financial titans from UBS Group to BlackRock manage more than US$4 trillion, and billionaires including James Dyson, Ray Dalio and Sergey Brin have set up family offices – Singapore remains a shipping and transit hub at its core. Hundreds of vessels anchor in Singapore's harbour each day, many waiting to load and unload cargo at one of the world's busiest maritime ports. For decades, that's made Raffles Place a prime location for money changers, just a few blocks from where the Singapore River empties into the Singapore Strait. Many sailors need to swap cash from their previous locations, and change money for their next destination. 'They get off the boat and come right here,' said Haleem, whose uncle Abdul Gaffoor, now 99, started City Money Changers on the Arcade's ground floor in 1980. Old-world relic Many office workers also come in search of the best exchange rates, which are often better than what banks offer. It's an old-world relic resisting the bits and bytes revolution. Mobile phones and tablets have replaced newspapers, while emails and social media have supplanted faxes and letters. Now digital payments are coming for the ancient culture of coins and paper notes. Mohamed Rafik, 55, a partner at Arcade Money Changers, a stall opposite Haleem's, remains optimistic. His evidence is that there are new licensees entering the industry who wouldn't do it if they couldn't make a living. 'Money changers won't go out of business,' said Rafik, while handling cash and paper receipts on a busy afternoon. Digital payment wallets may seem attractive now, but the companies also have overheads and may try to increase rates in the long run, he predicted. Right now, a thriving tourism industry is driving demand during the summer school holidays. Singapore is close to regional holiday hotspots like Phuket, Bali and Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, where cash is still needed to pay for food at street stalls or small restaurants, or to offer tips. Travellers with cash also avoid the higher exchange rates and foreign transaction fees imposed by many credit cards. Life lesson For Christina Ng, a teacher in her 40s who came to Haleem's stall for South Korean won, cash gives a sense of security while traveling. Paying with notes and coins is also a lesson for her three children. 'I want them to learn how to use the cash and do the transaction, so they need to see the physical money,' she said. 'We don't want them to just tap, tap, tap without actually knowing what they're spending on.' The money changers are good leading indicators of travel trends. Whereas demand used to be strongest for US dollars and Malaysian ringgit, the Japanese yen is now most sought-after, along with Korean won and Taiwanese dollars, Haleem said. A record number of tourists have flocked to Japan to visit historic sites, dine on sushi and take advantage of the weakened currency. At the Arcade, the money changers carve out an existence on the fringes of the multi-trillion dollar global foreign-exchange market. Customers throng the narrow passages to scrutinise buy and sell rates at tightly packed stalls, which are required to post rates on electronic screens. Frugality gives them an edge against the financial institutions that occupy the opulent towers surrounding Raffles Place, according to Rafik at Arcade Money Changers. The changers will survive even if digital platforms cut their margins to zero to gain market share, he said. Congregating in one location attracts more customers, but it also pares margins to the bone. Foreign currency bought at a commercial bank can cost 1 per cent to 4 per cent or more once you factor in a poorer exchange rate and transaction fees. At City Money Changers, it's a high-volume, low-margin business where Haleem typically makes fractions of a penny on the dollar in a swap. 'Everybody wants to see the best price so they will shop around,' he said, while taking a break from his tiny kiosk. On Thursday (Jun 19) afternoon, Haleem's stall was selling the greenback at S$1.2900, versus the S$1.2972 offered by Singapore's largest bank DBS on its retail app. The cash exchange rate wasn't as favourable as YouTrip's rate of S$1.2877 per US dollar. With all this cash on hand -– some changers can turn over as much as S$500,000 a day, he says – you would expect to see armed guards all over the plaza. Instead, the stallholders rely on security cameras – there are some 90,000 across the city – to monitor activity. The dealers are the eyes and ears for each other, on the alert for any suspicious customers. Regulators have scrutinised the industry in the past, concerned about the potential for money laundering. In 2016, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) cited a Raffles Place currency changer, along with other banks, for their roles in the scandal at 1MDB, the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund. The probe revealed inadequate risk management practices at the changer, and failure to identify the beneficial owners of funds. Money changers are now required to conduct customer due diligence measures for cash transactions exceeding S$5,000, or for those topping S$20,000 where the money is funded from an identifiable source like a bank account. That includes verifying customers' identities and keeping proper transaction records. The industry poses a 'moderate level' of money laundering threats due to its cash-intensive nature, said a spokesperson for the MAS, the country's financial regulator. Haleem, who's been at this trade for 40 years, concedes that the future isn't all bright for his industry. Business is about half that of pre-Covid levels, and the increased competition is eroding margins, while wild currency swings can leave him sitting on devalued cash overnight. He predicts the trend toward digital payments is only going to accelerate. 'It will become worse and worse,' he said, though he thinks there will always be a little room in people's wallets for cold hard cash. One floor up at Crown Exchange, Thamim A K, a money changer in his 60s, is more sanguine. Sitting in a backroom surrounded by wads of South Korean won and Indonesian rupiah, he says his 40 years of trading, with all its ups and downs, gives him hope for the future. 'I've seen everything, all the currencies, fluctuations,' he said. 'The bank notes business is still there. It's growing, in fact. It's fighting with digital.' BLOOMBERG