E. Java police seek bomb suspect

SURABAYA: New East Java Police chief Brig. Gen. Heru Susanto set on Friday the search for a suspected perpetrator of the Bali bombing as his number one priority.

Heru said, after a transfer of duty from predecessor Insp. Gen. Sutanto at the provincial police headquarters here, the police had short-listed target areas of the operation.

"We are focusing on and have sifted through several areas based on our estimate on the suspect's whereabouts," Heru said. He refused to disclose the areas being investigated.

The joint team investigating the bomb attack in Bali on Oct. 12 has released composite sketches of three possible suspects, one of whom is believed to be an East Javanese. National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Thursday the man had been identified as a bomb expert.

Heru, formerly Sutanto's deputy, said he had also ordered the provincial police to step up security measures in public places or offices where foreigners were usually to be found. -- JP