Police issue conflicting statements over police HQ bombing

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

In an apparent attempt to elude unwanted public interest in the Feb. 3 bomb blast in the National Police's Wisma Bhayangkari building, the police issued on Wednesday a statement that negated a previous one.

National Police deputy spokesman Sr. Comr. Didi Rochyadi played down an earlier statement by fellow deputy spokesman, who is one rank higher than him, Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang. Aritonang said on Monday that Adj. Comr. Anang Sumpena, the prime suspect in the bomb attack, had stated before police investigators that several military officers were aware of the incident.

"He (Anang) did not mention any names. Who said that he mentioned names ... Besides, we have yet to find any indication of the involvement of other parties in the bombing," Didi told reporters at the Jakarta Police Headquarters.

Aritonang told reporters on Monday that Anang did mention several names, reportedly military officers, known only by their initials -- ES and DS.

The one-star general said the two had knowledge of Anang's activities.

"Why did he acknowledge his guilt so easily? His actions are simply incongruous -- he blew up his own office," said Aritonang earlier, expressing doubts about the motive stated by Anang in his testimony to police investigators.

Following his arrest on Saturday in a rented room in Bukit Duri, East Jakarta, Anang is reportedly to be discharged due to unacceptable absenteeism justifying him being charged with desertion. Earlier, the National Police College (PTIK) had also expelled him for drug abuse.

Anang was captured thanks to fingerprints found on a piece of shrapnel at the blast site.

Didi said that Anang had also been undergoing psychological tests to ensure that he was in a fit mental state when he underwent interrogation.

The arrest of Anang, who is a member of the police bomb squad, is a slap in the face for the police, as the bomb squad is supposed to protect the people rather than endangering them.

Asked whether Anang was involved in other bombings in the city, Didi said the police had yet to find any evidence leading to such an allegation.

Anang is now being held by the city police's internal affairs department.

The bomb, which damaged Wisma Bhayangkari's lobby, claimed no fatalities, but heightened security concerns in the city.