Rp 50m offered for informant

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: South Sulawesi Police chief Insp. Gen. Jusuf Manggabarani has offered Rp 50 million (US$5,952) as a reward for civilians able to provide accurate information that leads to the capture of the perpetrators of a recent blast in Palopo.

Police officers who managed to arrest the bombers would receive only Rp 40 million, spokesman for the provincial police Sr. Comr. Andi Nurman Thahir said on Tuesday.

"The province's police chief did say this in Palopo and the money will be from his own pocket," Nurman said.

He said the offer of a reward is aimed at encouraging people to provide accurate information on those who bombed the Sampoddo Cafe on Jan. 10 in which four people were killed.

The police are investigating the attack but have found no leads on suspects, although they have raided a number of houses suspected of harboring them following tipoffs from local residents. -- JP