Officer testifies in police HQ bombing

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A police investigator testified on Tuesday that the fingerprints of former police bomb squad member Adj. Comr. Anang Sumpena were found on the cellophane tape used to assemble the bomb that exploded near the National Police Headquarters last February.

Janer Pasaribu, testifying at the South Jakarta District Court, said Anang had a motive for the bombing.

"We concluded that the defendant was the perpetrator of the bombing. He has the skills to assemble homemade bombs and had a motive, after being dismissed from the police for violating internal regulations," Janer told the court.

He said Anang had taken a course on explosive materials and bombs in the United Kingdom.

If found guilty of storing, transporting and using explosives, the defendant could face the death penalty.

The bomb, which exploded in front of Wisma Bhayangkari near the police headquarters, consisted of potassium, aluminum powder and shrapnel.

The bomb exploded at about 7:20 a.m. on Feb. 3. No one was injured in the blast, but a parked car was damaged.

Presiding Judge Syamsul Ali adjourned the trial until next week.