Bombing defendant says he was victim of conspiracy<\/p>\n
P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Facing a possible five-year sentence, Anang Sumpena reiterated
\nhis innocence in the Feb. 3, 2003, blast at Wisma Bhayangkari
\nhall in the National Police Headquarters compound, saying he was
\na victim of a conspiracy by fellow police officers.<\/p>\n
Anang, a former expert specializing in disarming explosive
\ndevices, told the South Jakarta District Court on Monday, \"I made
\nthe confession under duress.\"<\/p>\n
The prosecutors charged the defendant with violating Emergency
\nLaw No. 12\/1951, which carries a maximum penalty of the death
\nsentence, and Regulation in lieu of law No. 1\/2002 on terrorism,
\nwhich carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.<\/p>\n
No one was injured in the February bombing.<\/p>\n
Anang denied responsibility in the bombing and said the
\ncharges made against him were a fabrication.<\/p>\n
He told the court that he was picked up for questioning
\nduring the city police investigation into the bombing.<\/p>\n
At the time, Anang, who had left the force two years
\nbeforehand without formally resigning, was considered a deserter.<\/p>\n
According to Anang, in the questioning session on Feb. 15, he
\nmet city police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara and senior
\nofficers Insp. Gen. Tjuk Sugiarto, Brig. Gen. Alex Tangyong and
\nSr. Comr. Andi Chaerudin.<\/p>\n
He was told that if he confessed to the bombing he would get
\nno more than eight months in jail, and would be allowed to return
\nto the force after serving his time.<\/p>\n
\"The generals said that they would help fight for me,\" said
\nAnang.<\/p>\n
He added that the generals also promised to let his younger
\nsister be a specialist in the women's police force.<\/p>\n
He said he was even instructed on the motivation and how the
\nbomb had been made.<\/p>\n
\"I was told to say that I felt hurt, as I had never earned the
\nattention of National Police leaders and that the bombing was
\nmeant to remind them they still had a police expert in
\nexplosives.\"<\/p>\n
On Feb. 28 Anang retracted his confession and rejected the
\ndossier that was the basis of his indictments, as he discovered
\nthat his sister could not enter the force.<\/p>\n
In his defense Anang added that he did not hold grudges, and
\nthat his desertion from the force was because he lacked
\ndiscipline and could not fulfill his duties.<\/p>\n
Presiding judge Syamsul Ali adjourned the hearing until Dec.
\n10 to read the verdict.<\/p>",
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