JP/2/RIAU

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.