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udges at the Denpasar District Court, Bali, turned down Thursday a motion to dismiss charges against Nyoman Susrama, standing trial for the murder of local journalist Anak Agung Bagus Narendra Prabangsa.

"We have decided to proceed with the case," said presiding judge Djumain.

Susrama, the younger brother of Bangli Regent Nengah Arnawa, has been charged with masterminding the murder of Radar Bali daily editor Prabangsa, whose body was found floating in Bungsil Bay on Feb. 16.

Colleagues and media activists believe his abduction and subsequent murder were linked to his coverage of possible corruption in several construction projects financed by government agencies in Bangli regency. Susrama was the supervisor of the projects.

Susrama was charged with under Article 34 of the Criminal Code and could face death if found guilty.

The judges said his motion for dismissal was not supported by the body of evidence.

During a previous hearing, on Oct. 19, defense lawyers demanded that charges against their client be dropped due to lack of evidence.

Having failed in their attempt to clear their client, the defense team then demanded that the judges provide them with a fixed list of prosecution witnesses.

However, that motion was also rejected, after prosecutors objected. One of the prosecutors, I Nyoman Sucitriawan, said it was the prosecutors' prerogative to select the witnesses.

The defense team then demanded that Susrama be released from his current detention at the Bali Police's mobile brigade headquarters, citing security concerns.

The judges have yet to rule on that motion.

The trial of another suspect in the murder, I Nyoman "Rencana" Wiradnyana, was also heard Thursday.

The next hearing in Susrama's trial will be on Nov. 3, to hear testimonies from witnesses.

Beside Susrama and Rencana, seven other suspects are standing trial for Prabangsa's murder. They face charges ranging from homicide to conspiracy to commit murder to accessory to murder.