Three men arrested over Klender homemade bombs
Three men arrested over Klender homemade bombs
JAKARTA (JP): The military confirmed yesterday reports that
three men were arrested in Klender, East Jakarta, over the
weekend on charges of making bombs and plotting a political
maneuver.
Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi said
the military suspects the three are linked to an alleged bomb
maker who was arrested in an apartment in Tanah Tinggi, Central
Jakarta, in January.
"These three men, just like the one arrested in Tanah Tinggi,
were allegedly members of the banned youth organization People's
Democratic Party (PRD)," Nachrowi said.
Nachrowi declined to name the three suspects.
On Jan. 18, security officers arrested Agus Priyono at his
rented room in a Tanah Tinggi apartment block and seized books,
documents, diskettes, dozens of unfinished handmade bombs and
materials believed to be used to make bombs.
The government banned the PRD last year and the group's senior
leaders have been jailed on charges of subverting the state and
attempting to topple the government.
Nachrowi said the three in Klender were arrested by his
personnel on Friday night after a resident's tip-off.
Neighborhood chief Sucipto said the three were arrested in
their home on the apartment's second floor.
"Dozens of plain-clothed intelligence agents came here that
day, asking for information on the men," he told reporters
Saturday.
Sucipto said one of the accused was arrested around 5:30 p.m
and the other two at around 6:30 p.m.
"I heard that one of the two men possessed an Indonesian
passport under the name of Sugianto," he said.
He said the agents had seized documents and bags containing
remote control devices, chemical ingredients and handmade
explosives.
"I don't know exactly how many bombs were found in the room.
All I know is that the bombs shaped were like cubes," he said.
According to Sucipto, a fourth man also lives in the same room
but he did not come home on Friday.
Sucipto said he did not know the names of the four because
they had not reported themselves to him, although they had lived
in the room for 10 days.
He said the room was owned by a doctor named Erli who had
moved to Tangerang.
"As far as I know, the doctor has never met these men because
they made the rent deal through the apartment management," he
said.
Sucipto said he and the other residents were shocked when the
agents raided the apartment and took the three away.
"We never thought they would become involved in crime or have
bombs in their room. We never suspected them because they looked
very nice and polite," he said.
According to Nachrowi, the case and the three suspects had
been transferred to the City Police headquarters. "The police are
now investigating the case," he said.
City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang, however, said
yesterday that he had not been informed about the matter and
refused to comment. (cst)