Defendants deny knowing of bombs

Defendants deny knowing of bombs

JAKARTA: Three defendants charged with storing a substance
allegedly employed in making the explosives that were used in the
Marriott bombing on Aug. 5, 2003, told the South Jakarta District
Court on Tuesday that they did not know that the substance
involved would be used to make a bomb.

Defendants Suprapto, Solichin and Heru Setianto, however,
admitted that they had been warned by Purwadi, who gave them the
powdery substance, to keep it away from heat or fire. Purwadi
himself is currently standing trial for helping another Marriott
bombing suspect, Muhammad Rais, to transport the substance from
Pekanbaru, Riau province, to Jakarta.

Suprapto retracted the earlier statement he had made to police
that the substance was to be used for making explosives, while
Solichin denied ever saying that the substance was like
gunpowder.

The trial was adjourned by presiding judge Effendi until May
24. -- JP