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Jailed Terrorist Seen as Guiding Force in North Sumatra Robberies
Farouk Arnaz | October 25, 2010

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Jakarta. Toni Togar, a terrorist serving time for the 2003 bombing of a hotel in Jakarta, is the latest suspect in a series of high-profile robberies in North Sumatra, the outgoing National Police chief said on Monday.

Toni, also known as Indrawarman, is serving a 20-year sentence at Pematang Siantar Penitentiary in North Sumatra for the bombing of the JW Marriott, which killed 12 people.

Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, in his final press conference as police chief, said Toni trained with regional terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah in Afghanistan in 1995.

He said the Medan native participated in the coordinated church bombings on Christmas Eve in 2000, specifically the one in Pekanbaru, Riau, that killed four police officers and a civilian, and in the 2003 robbery of a Lippo Bank branch in Medan.

He said Toni claimed to be the emir, or general, of the Indonesian Mujahideen group.

“He prepared the strategy for the Medan terror network,” Bambang said. He was referring to the armed men believed to have robbed banks, Internet cafes and a money changer to fund the operations of a militant group caught training in Aceh in February.

The group, which police have said is linked to the Al Qaeda terrorist network, has also been accused of being behind the Sept. 22 attack on the Hamparan Perak Police station that left three officers dead.

At least 50 suspected members of the Aceh training camp have been arrested and several have been killed in a series of police raids this year.

An anti-terror police source told the Jakarta Globe that a detained terrorist suspect, identified as Ahmad Gazali, had testified about Toni’s involvement with the group.

“Gazali communicated intensively with Toni over the phone and in person during prison visits,” the source said.

Bambang said he had coordinated with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, which oversees the country’s prisons, to bring Toni to National Police headquarters in Jakarta on Monday for questioning.

“Toni is capable of controlling the Medan terror cell from behind bars,” he said.

“God willing, we will arrest more terror suspects. Gen. Timur Pradopo [the new police chief] will explain later.”

Police are still searching for Mustofa, also known as Abu Tholut, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the Aceh training camp.