Family says Samudra innocent

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A family member of suspected Bali bomb mastermind Imam Samudra confirmed that the police had arrested him, but maintained that Samudra was innocent.

Samudra's younger brother Lulu Jamaluddin made the statement on Friday when he arrived at Cilegon Police station in Banten to ensure that the man in custody was his brother.

Samudra was shown for 20 seconds to a throng of journalists who swarmed the police station. He was taken out of handcuffs to meet National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, who made an impromptu visit to question Samudra.

Antara reported that as soon as Samudra appeared, Lulu shouted Allahu Akbar (God is great) and Samudra repeated the words.

When reporters asked whether the man was his brother, Lulu said nothing but nodded his head.

Samudra was described by his younger brother as a quiet, devout Muslim who detested violence and hatred.

"He couldn't even stand it when people in the village set off firecrackers," Lulu told AP.

"He used to cry."

Samudra and his twelve brothers and sisters, grew up in Lopang Gede village in Serang, Banten. His father divorced his mother when he was a young boy.

Samudra, who is fluent in Arabic, graduated from an Islamic high school at the age of 18 with few formal skills. He then took a three-month computer course.

In 1990, he left for Malaysia and did not return home for a decade.

Other family members and neighbors also expressed their doubts over Samudra's capability to plan the bombing, which claimed over 190 lives.

"He was just a normal kid and there was nothing unusual about his family," a neighbor, Yusuf, said.