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| Southeast Asia |
| Bali blast probe ’has netted half the attackers’ |
| 2002-12-09 |
| The Bali blast probe has netted at least half of the bomb-plotters, its chief investigator said yesterday as the alleged mastermind and five co-accused were held separately on the resort island, ahead of further questioning. Mr I Made Mangku Pastika said 'at least 90 per cent' of the plot had been uncovered since the Oct 12 attack that killed more than 190 people. He said the arrest of key suspect Amrozi on Nov 5 was the investigation's most important breakthrough. He described alleged mastermind Imam Samudra as 'a subordinate' of Amrozi's brother Mukhlas - the alleged operations chief of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) regional terror network who was arrested on Tuesday - in the group, but said that Samudra had ' more advanced bomb-making skills' than Mukhlas. Being a more pious and devote person. Yesterday, Samudra and four co-accused - Amin, Yudi, Abdul Rauf and Agus - awaited further questioning after being flown to the resort under heavy guard, late on Friday. Police investigation spokesman Edward Aritonang said Samudra, who has reportedly confessed to planning the attack on Westerners in order to avenge injustice to Muslims worldwide, and the four other prisoners, were being held separately to 'prevent any personal contact with each other'. Keeps them from coordinating their stories. Samudra is in a detention cell at a police military post inside Bali police headquarters, a police source close to the investigation said. Agus and Amin were in different cells in a regular detention building, the source said. Hope they are on suicide watch. On Friday, Mr Pastika said Samudra would be taken to the crime scene of the blast 'if a reconstruction (of the crime scene) is needed'. He disclosed that the bombing, which caused millions of dollars in losses, cost just US$30,000 (S$54,000) to finance. He said Mukhlas has admitted accepting the cash in two instalments from a Malaysian called Wan Min. He said the money was 'all spent and gone' and Wan Min is now under detention. Police are still investigating who gave the money to the Malaysian. Follow the money all the way to...Saudi? |
| Posted by:Steve |