Police discover additional evidence linking Bali and Makassar bombers

Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi

Suryadi, one of 16 suspects in the Makassar bombing in South Sulawesi earlier this month, was among the accomplices of Imam Samudra, the alleged mastermind of the Bali bombing, police said here on Thursday.

"Suryadi has told investigators that he is a friend of Imam Samudra," South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani told a news conference in Makassar.

Police have linked the Makassar blasts at a McDonald's outlet and a car dealership with the devastating Bali bombing that killed over 190 people, mostly foreigners, on Oct. 12.

Firman said Suryadi was charged with providing funds for the Makassar bombers led by Agung Abdul Hamid, the alleged mastermind of the McDonald's explosion on Dec. 5, which killed three people and injured 11 others.

Suryadi had long established "active communication" with Samudra, the South Sulawesi Police chief said.

"He is a key witness to the relations between Agung Hamid and Imam Samudra because he is the suspect who had contact with Imam Samudra," Firman added.

He said the police were developing the investigation to uncover the link between the Makassar and Bali bombers.

Firman said Suryadi was arrested on Nov. 13, in the North Sulawesi capital of Manado on charges of robbing a local money changer. However, his wife denies that he was caught robbing the money changer.

The suspect was taken to the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta for further interrogation after he told investigators in Manado that he was in the city to find a bombing location at the order of Samudra.

Suryadi was later flown to Makassar after admitting to the police in Jakarta that he had knowledge of Agung Hamid and his accomplices.

Suryadi is being held at the South Sulawesi Police Headquarters along with at least 12 other suspects. The remaining four -- Agung, Hisbullah Rasyid, Mirzal and Dahlan -- are still at large.

Firman said the police were also searching for the sources of bomb-making materials, including potassium, used for the Makassar blasts.

He said another key suspect, Muchtar Daeng Lau, admitted that he bought a great amount of potassium in Makassar, but refused to give the address of the place at which he bought it.

"So we believe he obtained potassium from outside Makassar," Firman added.

He also said the police had determined that Suryadi and at least four other suspects -- Ilham, Muchtar, Usman and Hisbullah -- had undergone military training in the Philippines.

Police previously claimed that Agung, Muchtar and Ilham had been trained on assembling bombs in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the Makassar District Court heard a case involving another suspect, Masnur, on Thursday.

His wife, Naida, filed suit against the South Sulawesi Police for the wrongful arrest of her husband and demanded that he be released.

The South Sulawesi Police attended the hearing, during which the plaintiff was accompanied by eight lawyers led by Abdul Azis Malla. Presiding judge Karel Tuppu adjourned the trial until Friday.

Masnur was arrested on Dec. 11, six days after the Makassar blasts. He admitted that the bomb was assembled at his metal workshop, where the police found explosives including 250 kilograms of TNT.

Asked to respond to the lawsuit, Firman said the police were unmoved by it and would continue to investigate all the suspects.

"It's normal. It's the right of people to submit any objection. The police will definitely continue their work, this will not affect us," he said.