West Java bombing mastermind admits his role, probe continues<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): Iqbal, one of suspects in the December bombings
\nin Bandung, claimed to be the mastermind and coordinator of the
\nbombings in West Java, a police officer said here on Friday.<\/p>\n
The West Java Police detective chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Sardjono
\ntold reporters that Iqbal's claim was made after being cross-
\nexamined through a lie detector for two hours.<\/p>\n
Aceng Suhari (55), another suspect, was also interrogated.<\/p>\n
\"Both Aceng and Iqbal showed no signs of deception when
\nanswering 90 questions each,\" Sardjono said.<\/p>\n
The two sometimes gave inconsistent answers, Sardjono said,
\nciting Aceng, who said yes and no when asked if he knew about the
\nbombing plan.<\/p>\n
\"Iqbal's statements, anyhow, need to be further studied. He
\nclaimed that he no one had ordered him to plant the explosives,\"
\nSardjono said, believing that Iqbal (40) was covering for others
\nby taking the blame.<\/p>\n
Sardjono also said that cross checks would also be made with
\ntwo people who had been detained over the Sukabumi blast. The two
\nwere released last week due to lack of evidence.<\/p>\n
Aceng and Iqbal were arrested in the town of Brebes in Central
\nJava on Tuesday. They were among eight suspects in connection
\nwith the Christmas eve bomb attacks.<\/p>\n
The other suspects are Roni Miliar, Agus Kurniawan, Fachrozi
\nand three other people identified by the initials ES, LI and F,
\nwho were arrested in North Sumatra on Jan. 11.<\/p>\n
Roni Miliar and Agus Kurniawan had earlier stated that Iqbal
\nhad preached to them about the \"spirit of Jihad and the suffering
\nof Muslims in Ambon, Maluku\".<\/p>\n
Aceng was the owner of the workshop on Jl. Terusan Jakarta,
\nBandung, where bombs exploded, killing four on Jan. 24 afternoon.<\/p>\n
Other bombs exploded in Pangandaran and Sukabumi (West Java),
\nPekanbaru and Batam (Riau), Medan (North Sumatra), Mojokerto
\n(East Java) and Jakarta after the blast at Aceng's workshop.<\/p>\n
At least 18 people were killed and more than 100 others were
\ninjured in the incidents.<\/p>\n
Aceng had disappeared since then until police found him in
\nBrebes on Jan. 16.<\/p>\n
After Friday's questioning, Aceng told reporters that Iqbal
\nhad victimized him. He admitted to knowing Iqbal's plan, but he
\ndidn't report it to the police.<\/p>\n
New suspects<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, West Java Police chief Isnp. Gen. Yun Mulyana said
\nthat three more people have been named suspects in the West Java
\nbombings.<\/p>\n
\"Pendi, Piping and Maman were named suspects after the
\ndetectives questioned 10 more people, who were supposed to be
\nwitnesses,\" Mulyana said, adding that the 10 people were from
\nCiamis and Banjar.<\/p>\n
\"The new suspects are the owners of the house used by Aceng
\nand Iqbal in Brebes to hide in. They allegedly helped fugitives
\nAceng and Iqbal and let the two stay in their house.\"<\/p>\n
The house is located at Bentarsari village in Salem district,
\nBrebes.<\/p>\n
The witnesses said they knew of Aceng and Iqbal's activities,
\nincluding their plan to set bombs in Bandung and a resort area of
\nPangandaran. \"Some of the witnesses said they had met Holis, who
\nis wanted over the Pangandaran blast.\"<\/p>\n
Nana, one of the witnesses told reporters that Iqbal had asked
\nhim to remove small moles on his nose in his effort to change
\nhis appearance. (25\/sur)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-java-bombing-mastermind-admits-his-role-probe-continues-1447893297",
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