Three more suspects arrested with links to Bali bombing
Three more suspects arrested with links to Bali bombing
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
The police have arrested three people who allegedly aided and
abetted Ali Imron, a main suspect in the Oct. 12 Bali blasts, and
confiscated guns, bullets and explosive materials from the
suspects.
Guided by a confession from Ali, the police seized dozens of
guns and thousands of bullets during a raid on the three
suspects' homes in the East Java regency of Lamongan on Tuesday.
The police seized six FN guns, four revolvers, six Magnum
handguns, two other types of guns and more than 2,500 bullets of
various calibers from cleric Syachri's residence in Taman Prijen
village in Lamongan. Syachri teaches mathematics and physics at
the nearby Al Islam Islamic boarding school.
Some of the ammunition was manufactured by state-owned company
PT Pindad.
The police also found six bags of potassium chlorate, weighing
a total of 25 kilograms. Some potassium chlorate already had been
mixed with other chemicals.
The spokesman for the investigating team, Sr. Comr. Zainuri
Lubis, said the police also seized books on Jamaah Islamiyah and
international terrorism from Syachri's residence.
The police also arrested carpenter Hamim Buchori for the
illegal possession of firearms and bullets. The suspect told
officers he received the weapons from Ashari Dipokusumo.
"Ashari admitted that he received the guns from Ali Imron. His
arrest also has something to do with his close ties with Ali
Imron," Zainuri said, adding that the team was still searching
for three of four guns belonging to Ali Imron.
Ali Imron, along with Hutomo Pamungkas, alias Mubarok, was
arrested at a house on an island off Samarinda, East Kalimantan,
on Monday. During questioning by the Samarinda Police, he told
officers that the three people arrested on Tuesday in East Java
were in possession of numerous weapons.
The Samarinda Police also arrested 11 other suspects in
connection with the Bali blasts, which killed almost 200 people
and injured more than 300 others.
Ali was arrested for the possession of weapons and for
suspected involvement in the Bali blasts. Police believe he was
also involved in a string of other bombings and is an
accomplished bomb maker. Police hope Ali will shed light on the
types of explosives used in the Bali bombings.
Hutomo, who is believed to be the treasurer for the alleged
terrorist network behind the Bali blasts, is expected to reveal
where the financing for the bombings came from.
The two main suspects, along with the 11 others who were
arrested, will be transferred to Denpasar for further
investigation.
Zainuri said the three suspects arrested on Tuesday could face
jail sentences ranging from three years to 15 years for aiding
terrorists.
Government regulation in lieu of Law No. 1/2000 on terrorism
allows security authorities to arrest anybody who in any way aids
or abets criminals.
"The two will be facing charges of harboring criminals because
they reported nothing to the police about the two suspects'
whereabouts," he said.