Bombmakers will not get off lightly, Sjafrie warns
JAKARTA (JP): City military commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said yesterday that suspects in Sunday's bomb blast in Tanah Tinggi could face the death penalty or life in prison for illegally possessing, producing and using explosives.
The two-star general said a suspect, Agus Priyono -- and two accomplices who are still at large -- violated the 1951 Emergency Law No. 12 on the illegal possession, production and use of guns, ammunition or explosives.
"Their activities were, of course, against the law. They have been violating the law since they illegally purchased the materials to make the explosives."
Sjafrie also lambasted the suspects for ignoring neighborhood regulations.
"They failed to meet the prerequisite -- as newcomers -- to register themselves with the local neighborhood chief. They even refused to show their citizenship cards to the chief," he said.
Agus was apprehended and handed over to police by fellow residents in the cheap, rented apartment in Central Jakarta after the explosion on the fifth floor of the complex.
Police claim that Agus and two other men -- reportedly identified as Prayogo and David, alias Daniel -- apparently tried to make dozens of bombs in the room and planned to plant them at certain places in the city.
The explosion badly damaged the ceiling of Agus' unit and caused damaged to the unit below. Agus and his two friends were wounded in the explosion.
On Wednesday, city police chief Hamami Nata announced that Agus had been formally named as a suspect in the case.
"He has been detained here since Tuesday afternoon. We have taken over the case from the Central Jakarta Police," he said.
Hamami promised to solve the Tanah Tinggi investigation, chase down the other two suspects and expose details of their activities.
"Just pray for us, so that we can catch them quickly," was all he would say.
Shortly after Agus' arrest, security authorities hastily identified the suspects, who are in their 30s, as having links with the outlawed Democratic People's Party (PRD).
The following day, Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung reportedly ordered his personnel to arrest the two fugitives.
Sjafrie said his office would send pictures of the two men to the media.
Appreciation
"We want their pictures to be printed in newspapers so that the public can identify and help us catch them."
As a sign of appreciation to those who helped apprehend Agus, the military command's chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, yesterday handed over certificates of appreciation to a security officer, First Sgt. Suhendar; chief of the neighborhood unit, Muchlis; and chief of the local community unit, Ujang.
City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang refused to comment yesterday on whether the explosion indicated police intelligence officers had failed to do their job properly.
"Let's not lay the blame on any party. We'd just better take more care next time so that nothing like this incident could ever happen again."
He said the police were now examining all the documents, diskettes and books found at the scene.
"We're also seeking details about the background of Agus, his two escapee friends, their activities and a possible network."
Aritonang said that so far the authority considered the suspects to be amateurs who tried to build homemade bombs, which were not considered dangerous.
"But, we never underestimated them because they could have done it (finished the bombs) and created chaos everywhere," he said. (cst/jun)