JSX bomber flown to Jakarta from North Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): The convicted executor of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) bombing last year, Ibrahim Hasan, has been flown on Monday afternoon from Lhokseumawe in North Aceh to Jakarta by helicopter and is expected to arrive in the capital later in the evening.

Spokesman for Aceh Security Operation Lt. Col. Firdaus said that after arriving in Jakarta, Ibrahim, a former member of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), would be sent to the city Military Police's prison as he had previously escaped from the military police's detention.

"During the flight, Ibrahim will be guarded by Military Police personnel. The helicopter will refuel in Medan, North Sumatra, before resuming its flight to Jakarta," Firdaus told The Jakarta Post.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo said Ibrahim would be delivered to the National Military Police Headquarters.

"He will have to face a military tribunal for his wrongdoing," Bibit said as quoted by SCTV private television station.

Firdaus said Ibrahim -- believed to be a member of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist movement -- was fit to face an investigation on his escape from the Military Police's detention and alleged involvement in terrorist and bomb attacks in Lhokseumawe a few days before the country's Independence Day.

"In our preliminary questioning, Ibrahim admitted that he arrived in Kandang village on Aug. 14, and that after escaping detention, he had been in contact with GAM members. Ibrahim also admitted that a GAM member, Syaiful, had mentioned GAM's plan to launch terrorist attacks, including bomb attacks, ahead of the Independence Day celebration," he said.

Commenting on GAM's denial of Ibrahim's story and his GAM membership, Firdaus said: "It's up to it to deny Ibrahim's story, but he (Ibrahim) witnessed GAM's preparations in its Kandang village headquarters for its terrorist attacks."

At least 10 people were killed and dozens injured in a powerful explosion in the JSX parking lot on Sept. 13, 2000. Some 200 cars were destroyed in the incident. (tso)