Woman tried for bomb possession

JAKARTA (JP): The spiritual advisor of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra appeared before the East Jakarta District Court on Wednesday on charges of illegal possession of explosives.

Prosecutor Surung Aritonang told the court that Elize Maria Tuwahatu, 33, was apprehended in possession of three nitrate bombs and one TNT bomb without the necessary permits, Antara reported.

She could face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.

The defendant was arrested at the Taman Mini recreational park in East Jakarta on Jan. 19 as she attempted to hand over the bombs to another paranormal who had already informed the police about the plan, the prosecutor said.

The bombs were allegedly to have been planted at the office of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Attorney General's Office and at the tax office.

Elize had earlier claimed that the bombs belonged to Tommy, former president Soeharto's youngest son, who was found guilty of corruption and has been on the run since last November. But she later retracted the statement.

The defendant had promised to pay Rp 1 billion (approximately US$84,000) to the other paranormal if Attorney General Marzuki Darusman and Minister of Trade and Industry Luhut Panjaitan were killed in the explosions, according to the indictment.

The trial was adjourned until May 2.