Shock as notorious Bali bomber Umar Patek confirmed to walk free early

WA survivors of the Bali bombing say they are “disgusted” to hear the man who built the bomb that killed 202 people — including 88 Australians — will walk free from prison so close to the 20th anniversary of the deadly blast.

On Friday morning Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the bomb maker has had his sentence reduced.

“We have been advised that there has been a further reduction in the sentence for this person of some five months,” he said.

“And that of course will add to the distress that Australians are feeling.”

Umar Patek — real name Hisyam bin Ali Zein — was spared the death penalty but jailed for 20 years for his role in the twin blasts that ripped through Kuta’s Sari Club and Paddy’s Bar.

Sixteen of those who died were West Australians.

And just weeks away from the 20th anniversary of the bombing, it was revealed that Patek had been given his 11th sentence reduction since being locked up in 2014.

It brings his release date from January next year to August and he could walk free from Indonesia’s Porong prison by the end of the month.

Former captain of the Kingsley Football Club, Phil Britten, was lucky to survive the blast but lost seven friends when he and 19 teammates were at the Sari Club when the bomb exploded.

“I’m pretty appalled to be honest, who gets to take so many lives away and just because they’ve been well behaved gets such a reduced sentence and go back out to the community,” he said.

“It’s disgusting how it has to happen now, it’s terrible.”

During 2003 Mr Britten fought through the agony of his burns to return to the sport he loved.

“We are victims again, victims of the Indonesian justice system, it never goes away,” he said.

On October 12, the football club will hold a memorial service in honour of their late players and Mr Britten said a legends game will invite old players back to the club as “a way to celebrate and remember the guys we lost”.

“We’re not going to let it affect us, we are disappointed, upset and disgusted but we’ve got our own lives to deal with and move on with.”

WA survivors Peter Hughes and Gary Nash were stood next to each other when the bomb at Paddy’s was detonated, fighting unimaginable odds to survive.

Mr Hughes, who suffered burns to 50 per cent of his body, was shocked to learn the “mastermind” would walk free.

“It’s a slap in the face to all the people who lost loved ones,” he said.

“He should have got the death penalty, I was in the court room in Jakarta giving a victim impact statement and the only reason he got off was because he dobbed in his mates.”

Megan Basioli was just 15 when she was left severely burned in the attack. Her 44-year-old father Peter was killed.

They had been at the Sari Club for just 20 minutes with his partner Lee-Anne and her daughter Nadine, 16, because the girls hoped some Fremantle Dockers players might make an appearance.

“It’s pretty disappointing and upsetting considering how many lives were taken and destroyed from the attack,” she said.

“I’m sure there is a lot of families out there who are devastated after hearing the news, especially with emotions heightened given the anniversary is coming up.

“However, saying that, I try not to let these sorts of things consume me, it is something which is out of my control and letting it overwhelm me isn’t going to bring my dad back.”

Clint Thompson was president of the Coogee Dolphins, an amateur rugby league team from Sydney’s eastern suburbs that was in Bali for an end-of-season trip.

The 29-year-old and five of his team-mates were killed in the Sari Club blast.

On Thursday his mother said her “stomach lurched” when she saw the news.

“We don’t need this,” she said.

“This is just total disrespect to how Australians feel about it, it’s a slap in the face.”