Model questioned over Tommy's case

JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives questioned local model Lani Banjaranti, 27, for nearly six hours on Wednesday, in connection with the whereabouts of fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

"She totally denies that there has been any contact between herself and Tommy since he fled last November. She said that they have had no contact with each other since 1997," city police detective chief for general crimes Comr. Tito Karnavian told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

"She also said that she knows bomb suspect Elize Maria, but not too well."

Arrested for the possession of three bombs at the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah recreation park in East Jakarta on Jan. 19, Elize earlier made headlines when she told police that it was Tommy who gave her the bombs.

Lani arrived at city police headquarters at about 3 p.m. and panicked when she saw the hordes of reporters waiting for her arrival.

Police have raided Lani's residence on Jl. Dempo, in the Pegangsaan subdistrict of Menteng in Central Jakarta, at least thrice in the last two weeks. (ylt)