Suspect terrorizing expatriates faces terrorism charges: Police
Suspect terrorizing expatriates faces terrorism charges: Police
Abdul Khalik, Jakarta
A man arrested for allegedly making death threats to expatriates
working at Canadian-operated nickel mine PT Inco in Soroako,
South Sulawesi, will face terrorism charges, police said on
Sunday.
National Police antiterror division director Brig. Gen.
Pranowo said the man identified only as dentist "NMB" would be
charged under the 2002 antiterrorism law for threatening many
Canadian expatriates.
"He will be charged under the terrorism law because he has
scared many expatriates by sending the death threats. Most of
them had left Indonesia for Canada," Pranowo said.
He said police had found no indication the dentist was linked
with any terrorist group in the country.
"We have investigated the case thoroughly and are convinced he
acted on his own only because he was afraid that foreigners would
take over his job," Pranowo said.
This fear had prompted NMB to make a series of death threats
in 200 mobile phone text messages to several high-ranking Inco
employees last May. The man was arrested on June 9.
A total of 28 witnesses had been questioned and NMB's case
file would soon be submitted to prosecutors, who would prepare an
indictment against him, Pranowo said.
Pranowo stressed Soroako was secure from terrorist threats.
"This terror act is motivated by personal reasons. There is no
wider political motive is behind the threats because there were
no more threats after (NMB's) arrest," he said.
After the messages, the Canadian government last month warned
its citizens of a terrorist threat in South Sulawesi. It issued a
travel warning to its citizens, advising them not to visit the
province.
The ban was lifted on Saturday morning, PT INCO Vice President
James K Gowans was quoted by Antara as saying.
Indonesia has been rocked by a series of terror attacks in
recent years. Most of them, including the 2002 Bali bombings
which killed 202 people, and the 2003 JW Marriott Hotel attack
which killed 12, have been blamed on the al-Qaeda-linked Jamaah
Islamiyah.