Police grill father of Fathur

SURABAYA: East Java Police detectives grilled on Monday an East Java councillor, M. Zainuri, in connection with his alleged links to self-confessed bomber Abas alias Edi Sutiono, a prime suspect of the Atrium Plaza bombings in 2001.

Zainuri is the father of Fathur Rohman al-Ghozi, who is currently detained in the Philippines on terrorism charges.

East Java Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Wisnu Amat Sastro said that during Monday's two-hour questioning, Zainuri denied having any links with Edi Sutiono.

"We showed him a printout of all the numbers called from Edi's cell phone ... Edi called Zainuri's home 28 times, but Zainuri told us during questioning that he did not know Edi, and that he has not received any calls from a person called Edi," Wisnu told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

He said Zainuri might be summoned again for further questioning.

Zainuri's lawyer, Achmad Michdan, said that detectives asked Zainuri questions about his relationship with Fathur, and whether Zainuri was acquainted with Indonesian Mujahidin Council (MMI) chief Abu Bakar Ba'asyir. -- JP