The Jakarta Post, 1/24/2006 3:51:34 PM
Police arrest another Noordin's aide
JAKARTA (AP): Police on Tuesday announced the arrest of a suspect who had ties to
Noordin M. Top -- the Asia's most-wanted man -- and was providing authorities with
information on the fugitive'swhereabouts.
The suspect, identified only as Catur, was detained on Monday in central Java
province, the latest of at least 11 alleged militants arrested in the region in recent
weeks, said National Police Spokesman Brig. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam.
Anton said Catur had played a role in "assisting" Noordin, but gave no more details.
Officers have a week before they have to release or formally declare him a suspect.
Anton said Catur and the other suspects were providing "information on Noordin's
whereabouts" but declined to elaborate.Noordin is believed to be a senior member of
the al-Qaida linked terror group Jemaah Islamiyah.
Jemaah Islamiyah, which allegedly had cells throughout Southeast Asia before a
crackdown in 2003, has been blamed for two attacks on Bali island that killed more
than 220 people, mostly foreign tourists. It is also implicated in a 2003 blast at
Jakarta's J.W. Marriott hotel and a 2004 bombing at the Australian Embassy.
Indonesia has arrested and convicted scores of alleged members of the group in
recent years.
Some have been convicted of direct involvement in the terror attacks and sentenced to
long prison terms or death. Most received light prison terms after being convicted on
vague charges of withholding information about alleged plots. (**)
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