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.