Asmar graduated from Ngruki school

Asmar graduated from Ngruki school

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Asmar Latin Sani, 28, the alleged suicide bomber of last week's
JW Marriott Hotel in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, was a graduate
of the Ngruki Muslim boarding school in Solo, Central Java --
just like Bali bombers Amrozi, Ali Imron and Imam Samudra.

The Ngruki Muslim boarding school is headed by cleric Abu
Bakar Ba'asyir, who is believed to be leader of the Jamaah
Islamiyah (JI) regional terrorist network.

Ba'asyir is currently on trial for treason and conspiracy to
assassinate President Megawati Soekarnoputri when she was vice
president.

"Asmar, who was born in Bengkulu, graduated from our school in
1994," Wahyuddin, Deputy Director of the Ngruki Muslim boarding
school, told reporters on Sunday.

He said Asmar was not a particularly special student, so the
school had never offered him a teaching position at the school.

"For us, he was just one of our students. After he graduated,
he was responsible for his own actions," Wahyuddin said.

Asmar, whose was identified after a severed head was recovered
at the blast site, is a native of West Sumatra province, but held
a Bengkulu ID card issued in 1987.

According to the ID card, Asmar lived at Jl. Nuzirwan Zainul
No.1, Kampung Bali, Teluk Segara subdistrict, Bengkulu.

However, when police checked the address, none of the
residents in Kampung Bali recognized Asmar or had heard of Jl.
Nuzirwan Zainul No. 1.

Indopos reported on Sunday that Asmar's family was found
living at Jl. Sulawesi Gg Damai RT 06, Patungan, Gading Cempaka,
Bengkulu.

Asmar's older sister Amanda confirmed that the severed head,
which was said to be the head of the suicide bomber, was indeed
her brother. She identified her brother through police
photographs.

She said the police had been hunting for her brother for four
months, alleging that Asmar was involved in the Oct. 12 Bali
bombings.

"I still do not believe the allegation. My brother was a good
and faithful person," she said.

Bengkulu police are reported to have information that Asmar
once kept 50 kg of explosive powder at his Bengkulu home.