Agung likely bombing mastermind

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: After a marathon interrogation, South Sulawesi Police were close on Tuesday to charging Agung Abdul Hamid, who was arrested in Yogyakarta three days ago, with masterminding the 2002 bombing of a McDonald's outlet in Makassar.

"From our intensive questioning of Agung, and other suspects who had been arrested earlier -- as well as from other evidence -- we may conclude that Agung was the mastermind of the blasts in Makassar," South Sulawesi Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Herman Hamid said.

The blast in Makassar two years ago claimed the lives of three people. Herman earlier denied reports that Agung was also involved in a bomb blast at Sampoddo Cafe in Makassar last year.

"We have yet to find evidence that he was involved in the Sampoddo Cafe bombing. Anyway, we are investigating it," said Herman. -- JP