| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Suspect arrested in connection with Bali bombings |
| 2005-12-02 |
| Indonesian police said on Thursday a man held for allegedly harbouring terrorists linked to the Bali suicide bombings was now suspected of involvement in the plot and may face the death penalty. Dwi Widyanto alias Wiwid, 33, was arrested on November 23 and questioned about helping hide wanted terrorists, including fugitive Malaysian Noordin Mohammad Top, and withholding information from police about them. "After further investigation (the charges) were changed to Chapter 6 of law number 15 of 2003... It means he took part and the offence carries up to the death sentence," Bali police spokesperson Antonius Reniban told reporters. "He knew of the plan and he was part of the plan," Reniban said, without detailing the role he was alleged to have played. The law concerns the use or threat of violence to create an atmosphere of terror or claim mass victims, or cause the destruction of strategic or public structures. Reniban said Wiwid was initially held under the country's 2002 anti-terror law on providing assistance to suspected terrorists, an offence that carries a 15-year penalty. Twenty people and the three suicide bombers were killed when the explosions they detonated tore through three popular eateries in two separate resort areas in southern Bali on October 1. Wiwid, who was arrested in Semarang, Central Java, is currently being questioned at Bali police headquarters. Three other suspected militants arrested in Central Java - Cholily alias Yahya alias Hasan, Anif alias Pendek and Abdul Aziz - are also under interrogation in Bali over the attacks. Cholily was arrested in Semarang on November 9 and is alleged to have been a disciple of slain Malaysian bomb expert Azahari Husin, who told him to deliver explosives to his still on-the-run accomplice, Top. The arrest of Cholily led to the police raid later the same day on the East Java hideout of Azahari, who was shot dead along with another accomplice. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |