Sketches of KPU blast suspect issued

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

More than two weeks after the explosion at the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Jl. Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta, the police began distributing on Wednesday sketches of a possible suspect.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said the sketches were based on information from witnesses -- six KPU employees and two on-duty policemen -- who were at the KPU on July 26 when the explosion occurred.

"The witnesses gave us information on a man who looked suspicious and seemed nervous. Others told our investigators that the man hurriedly left the building," he said.

The sketches show a frontal and profile view of the suspect.

Police added the suspect was about 1.65 meters tall, between 30 to 40 years old, had dark skin and was presumably Javanese. He was last seen wearing a light shirt and black trousers.

In widely distributing the sketches to the public, the police expected to complete their investigation sooner.

The KPU received a tip 30 minutes before the blast from an anonymous caller, who said a bomb was in the building. The KPU staffer who took the call immediately informed police stationed at the building, and a 10 by 15 by 10 cm cardboard box was found inside the women's restroom at about 1 p.m.

The bomb squad was alerted, but the object exploded five minutes later.

The "firecracker-like" explosion damaged a door, shattered windows and punched a hole in the ceiling of a woman's restroom on the first floor of the building. No casualties were reported, but the incident heightened congestion on the busy street.

Police said the explosive contained potassium chlorate, which was often used in firecrackers, and have insisted it was not a bomb. However, they have not explained how the substance could have exploded spontaneously.