LAKSAMANA.Net, November 3, 2004 06:27 AM
Police to Submit Files on Bombing Suspects
Laksamana.Net - Police say they will soon submit to state prosecutors evidence files
on two suspects in the September 9 suicide bombing outside the Australian Embassy
in Jakarta, paving the way for the pair to be tried for terrorism.
"In a few days' time, their dossiers will be completed and be ready for submission to
the public prosecutor's office," National Police criminal investigation chief
Commissioner General Suyitno Landung was quoted as saying Tuesday (2/11/04) by
state news agency Antara.
He identified the suspects only by their initials as A.A.H. and I.R. Local media reports
have named A.A.H. as Agus Ahmad Hidayat, who was arrested in Cakung, East
Jakarta, on September 16. He has allegedly confessed to transporting explosives
used in the blast.
I.R. was reportedly arrested on September 23 in Cikampek, West Java. He allegedly
delivered letters from the suicide bomber, Heri Kurniawan, to the latter's parents and
wife, explaining his desire to become a martyr.
Landung said police have already questioned 103 witnesses in connection with the
blast that killed 11 people and wounded more than 180.
He said police are continuing to investigate other suspects and searching for those
who remain at large.
The attack has been blamed on regional terrorism network Jemaah Islamiyah, which
has also been accused of responsibility for the October 2002 Bali nightclub bombings
that killed 202 people and the August 2003 blast at Jakarta's JW Marriott Hotel that
killed 12 people.
Police have arrested over 30 people in connection with the bombing but only eight
have been declared suspects.
Most of the suspects are accused of harboring the alleged masterminds of the blast,
Malaysian citizens Azahari Husin and Noordin Muhammad Top, who remain at large.
Another key suspect, Rois alias Iwan Darmawan, is also still on the run. He is
suspected of involvement in the construction and transportation of the bomb.
Police have warned that Azahari and Noordin could be planning more attacks. The two
are also suspected of playing major roles in the Bali and Marriott bombings.
Rewards ranging from Rp500 million to Rp1 billion have been offered for information
leading the arrest of Azahari, Noordin and their cohorts.
Landung said police have not yet ascertained how the explosives used in the
embassy bombing were detonated, because they have not found significant material
evidence at the site of the blast.
He said the lack of evidence could be a sign that the bombers had become
increasingly skilled at covering their tracks.
Meanwhile, University of Indonesia criminologist Erlangga Masdiana warned that if the
main perpetrators of the attack are caught, they could escape justice if police are
unable to find out precisely how the bombing was carried out.
"Knowing the sequences in the bombing is very important as a form of proof in the
investigation if the perpetrators are caught. If the sequences are not explained, and if
the perpetrators are caught and brought to court, it's possible they could go free due
to a lack of proof," he was quoted as saying by the Kompas daily.
He said efforts by police to capture the perpetrators have not yet been optimal,
because police at the subdistrict level are still focusing on regular crimes, rather than
terrorism.
Heightened Security
National Police chief General Dai Bachtiar on Tuesday ordered to police to be on the
lookout for Azahari, Noordin and the other suspected bombing fugitives at bus
terminals, railway stations and ports across the country during the upcoming holiday
period of Idul Fitri and Lebaran, when millions of Indonesians traditionally travel to their
hometowns.
Bachtiar also instructed police to increase their presence and vigilance at major
transport hubs and other public places to prevent bomb attacks during the festive
period, which starts after the conclusion of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadhan on
November 15.
"National Police headquarters will deploy plainclothes officers and make regular
patrols in 22 public places during the period," he said. He declined to name the 22
locations.
He also said police would assess intelligence reports to decide whether to deploy
snipers to crime prone areas.
Illegal Levies
Public transport fares usually soar over Idul Fitri and Lebaran due to the imposition of
higher ticket prices, which are often illegally increased further by scalpers acting in
cahoots with transport officials and security officers.
Another problem is the imposition of unofficial tolls imposed on public buses and
private vehicles during the holiday period.
Bachtiar said he had ordered his officers to arrest any transport officials and police
found collecting illegal levies from motorists and public buses.
"We have ordered our men to capture unscrupulous officers, including police and
transport officers, collecting illegal levies from drivers of public buses and private
cars," he said.
"The National Police will take firm action against ticket scalpers and those who
impose illegal levies. Police will carry out observations in a covert manner," he added.
The police chief was speaking at Merak ferry terminal in Banten province, west of
Jakarta, to inspect preparations for the Idul Fitri exodus. He was accompanied by
Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa, Public Works Minister Joko Kirmanto, Home
Affairs Minister Mochtar Maruf and Banten Governor H.D. Munandar.
The mastermind of the Bali bombings, Imam Samudra, was arrested at Merak port on
November 21, 2002, while inside a bus about to board a ferry for southern Sumatra.
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