ABC AUSTRALIA, 19/12/2003 20:03:50
Indonesia extends detention for terror-linked students
Indonesia has extended the detention of four students deported from Pakistan
because they are suspected of links to an accused terror leader and several
bombings.
The national police chief, Da'i Bachtiar, says the students have links to captured terror
suspect Hambali, who is accused of being the top operative of the Jemaah Islamiah
extremist group.
The students - including a younger brother of Hambali - have been held in Indonesia
since December 12.
Police say the four are now expected to face a series of terrorism-related and other
criminal charges.
A police spokesman, Soenarko, says there is sufficient evidence of involvement in
terrorist attacks in Indonesia to issue new warrants for charges carrying penalties of
more than 15 years' jail.
The four students were part of a group of six Indonesians who were studying at the
Abu Bakar Islamic University in the Pakistani city of Karachi when they were arrested
in September.
The other two Indonesians were released earlier this week because of insufficient
evidence.
Thirteen other students from Singapore and Malaysia were also arrested in the
Karachi raids.
Jemaah Islamiah is blamed for a string of bomb attacks across South East Asia,
including the October 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people.
19/12/2003 20:03:50 | ABC Radio Australia News
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