JP/2/RIAU
Key witness in Pekanbaru bombing under tight guard
The Jakarta Post Jakarta
A critically ill man, who police believe may be a key witness in Tuesday's Pekanbaru bombing, was heavily guarded in hospital on Thursday and was visited by a U.S. FBI investigator and high- ranking police officers.
The witness, Irwanto, 24, is being treated at Ibnu Sina Islam Hospital in the Riau capital of Pekanbaru. He was still unconscious on Thursday.
Irwanto was found badly hurt by police about 30 meters from the bomb blast, which destroyed a shop house, killing two people and injuring four others early on Tuesday morning.
The armed military and police contingent guarding Irwanto prohibited anyone from seeing or talking to him. Along with the five guards inside his hospital room, more soldiers and plain clothes police secured the entire hospital floor.
After visiting Irwanto in hospital, FBI investigator Michael Hass and police officials, including national drug and antiterror division director Brig. Gen. Gorries Mere, visited the bomb site to inspect the police investigation. They refused to comment about their visit to Irwanto.
Irwanto has become a focus in the bombing investigation because his clothes were covered with traces of a chemical used to make high explosives. The chemical was also used in the Bali and JW Marriott Hotel bombings. The reason for Irwanto being at the bomb scene early on Tuesday morning is also unclear.
The bomb went off only few hours before the Pekanbaru District Court began the trial of a man charged with the Christmas 2000 bombing of a Riau church.
Earlier, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar had expressed his suspicion that Irwanto had some connection to the bombing.
But Irwanto's mother Iluswati, 43, told Antara she believed her son was innocent.
Iluswati, from the city's West Sidomulyo district, said Irwanto had told her on Monday afternoon he was delivering a motorcycle to a friend.
The next thing she knew, he was in hospital, she said.
Those killed in the blast have been identified as Sipon, a maid; and Sriyati, a shop assistant. Injured were the shop owner Along, his wife Yuliana, his son Stephen and Irwanto.
A police forensic team is continuing to sift through debris at the bomb site for clues.