Bali Bomber Umar Patek causes outrage after starting coffee business, using deadly attacks to promote venture
The terrorist responsible for making the bombs that killed more than 200 people — including 88 Aussies — in Bali is using his role in the deadly attack to market his new business.
Umar Patek was convicted of creating the car bomb that exploded outside two busy Kuta nightclubs in 2002 and was one of the world's most wanted men after going on the run for nine years after the incident.
He served only 11 years of his 20-year jail sentence, and just three years after his release, he is causing outrage again.
Patek has launched a new coffee business, claiming he is now 'brewing peace'.
The business, Coffee RAMU 1966 by Umar Patek, is located in Surabaya, the capital of East Java. The name RAMU is a reversal of his name Umar.
'Once, I concocted bombs, and now I concoct coffee,' Patek told This Week in Asia.
Patek said he wanted to start a new life and the only option for him was to launch his own business because 'no one wanted to hire a convicted criminal'.
'Before, I was known for something that hurt the world,' he said.
'Now I have chosen a different path.
'Before, bitterness used to destroy, now (the) bitterness (of coffee) heals.'
His new career path and disgraceful marketing tactic has left families of the Bali Bombing victims' outraged.
Sandra Thompson, the mother of 29-year-old Australian rugby player Clint who died in the attack, said Patek has never paid for the atrocity.
'Has this man repented? Does he still think what he did was morally right? Or has he just served a sentence then moved on?' she queried.
'Two hundred and two lives plus an unborn baby and survivors still living with the effects of their injuries. Has he paid for that? Never, if he has no remorse.'
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