Jakarta (AsiaNews/Agencies) Convicted 2002 Bali bomber Imam Samudra raised funds for last year's attack on the island and recruited would-be jihadis from his prison cell using a laptop computer smuggled behind bars, Indonesian police report. Anti-terror officers said that the death row inmate also had a cellphone which he used to contact fellow militants.
The revelations came as law enforcement authorities announced the arrest of two suspects believed to be linked to Samudra. Agung Prabowo, 23, is said to have set up a 'how to kill foreigners' website. Agung Setyadi, 31, is accused of buying Samudra's computer.
"A wireless laptop was sent via courier service to Imam Samudra's jail in Kerobokan Bali around July, 2005. With the help of a prison guard, the laptop was smuggled in," confirmed an anti-terror officer. "We've also learned that Samudra had a mobile phone, which he used to contact people. His use of the mobile phone was not monitored."
The cyber crime unit head said Samudra engaged in "intense communication" with unidentified people before the second Bali attack.
Samudra, 36, was scheduled to be executed on Tuesday this week but has since been granted a stay of execution after his lawyers filed a last-minute appeal.
Police took into custody Prabowo and Setyadi in Semarang, Central Java, on August 12 and 16 respectively, but made the announcement only yesterday.
According to a police report obtained by the South China Morning Post, Samudra told Setyadi to use stolen credit card information to buy the laptop. It also said Prabowo was recruited whilst online in two chat rooms. He was arrested for his alleged role in registering www.anshar.net in Germany and Great Britain, a website outlining in great detail the best ways to assassinate foreigners
The website was discovered last November. Police believe it was created at the request of Asia's most wanted terrorist, Malaysian Noordin Mohamed Top.
Following the latest arrests, Indonesian security sources named some of the places in Jakarta thought to be on the terrorist hit list like Planet Hollywood, the Senayan Golf Driving Range and Convention Centre. (BR)