Bombing suspect transferred to Jakarta
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Jakarta
Abdul Jabar, a main suspect in a series of bombings in Jakarta in 2000 and 2001, has been transferred from Bali to Jakarta for interrogation.
Jakarta Police detectives head Sr. Comr. Andi Chaeruddin said that Jabar would be interrogated in connection to the blasts and alleged links with Imam Samudra, a main suspect in the Oct. 12, 2002 blasts in Bali.
Abdul surrendered to Lombok Police on Thursday in connection with the bombing of several churches and the Philippine ambassador's residence in Jakarta in 2000, and the bombing of The Philippine Embassy and Atrium Plaza in 2001.
Jabar has allegedly confessed to attacks on Catholic churches in Menteng, Matraman and Klender, an Anglican church in Menteng and the Koinoia church in Jatinegara.
"Jabar admitted that in launching the attacks, he was accompanied by Dhani, a Malaysian, and Dedi Setiono, alias Abbas, who was sentenced to death for his involvement in the Atrium Plaza bombing.
Three other suspects, Dicky, alias Ibrahim, Asep, alias Darwin, and a Malaysian named Musa," Andi told the press at his office.
Jabar has told police that Iman Samudra had ordered him to buy explosives and attack the churches.
Bali bombing investigation team spokesman Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis said on Saturday that Jabar, 33, had admitted he was ordered by Samudra to buy materials and then assemble bombs for attacks on several churches on Batam Island as well as in Mataram and Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Jabar's brother Farikin, alias Yasir, helped.
Farikin is reportedly being held at Poso prison in Central Sulawesi for allegedly provoking sectarian violence there.
"His cooperation with Imam was only confined to buying some materials in 2000 and had nothing to do with the Bali bombings," Zainuri said.
Zainuri said Jabar also said that he obtained the explosives from Dulmatin, a key suspect of the Bali bombings who is also still at large.
"It was Dulmatin who had handed over the three bombs to be exploded by Abdul Jabar and his friends at three designated places in Jakarta," Zainuri said, adding that a follow-up probe would be handled by Jakarta police.
National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang said Jabar and Imam Samudra had met several times before the blasts.
"We are looking into the link between the Christmas Eve blasts and the Bali blasts," he said
Riau Police believe Imam Samudra was responsible for blasts in several churches in Batam and Pekanbaru, Riau on Christmas Eve, 2000.