Jakarta police spokesman Sr. Comr. Chrysnanda Dwi Laksono did not reject nor confirm the arrest, but police sources close to the investigation confirmed  the detention of Yayan (aka Suryana and Gepeng).

Several eyewitnesses testified that Yayan had been picked up from his house by around 10 armed men.

“If we shared every detail of the investigation then it could be counterproductive to our efforts,” Chrysnanda told journalists later on Thursday.

One of the sources said the man was currently being detained at Jakarta Police headquarters, awaiting further questioning.

“His name is Yayan and he works for the Gran Melia hotel.”

Yayan was arrested Wednesday while he was at his family home in North Jakarta, he said.

The source said Yayan had been arrested after the police found evidence he had telephoned the General Elections Commission (KPU) and threatened to detonate a bomb in the KPU building just one hour before the attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels on July 17.

“The police brought him directly to the KPU building to dig up more information about his bombing plans.

“Besides, the police have also confronted his statements with a group of men arrested earlier in Roxy, Central Jakarta, who had also spread similar bomb threats via text messages.”

Another field officer, who also spoke under anonymity, said the police were determining whether Yayan could lead police to Noordin's terrorist group.

“Early questioning revealed that Yayan was one of the Indonesia Islamic State [NII] activists. We are still looking for any connection between him and Noordin’s group.”

Police earlier confirmed that many former members of NII, a group fighting to turn Indonesia into an Islamic state, supported Noordin’s actions, and assisted him with his escape.

Meanwhile, several of Yayan’s neighbors said they saw 10 armed plainclothes officers enter his house. They claimed to have seen officers escort a handcuffed Yayan, taking him  away on a motorcycle.

A number of men then took pictures of the house, while others were still on watch around the house as of Thursday evening.

Several men allegedly linked to the bombings have been questioned by the police.

Some of them, such as Ahmadi and Sucihani, Ibrohim’s wife, were subsequently freed. Others, such as Arina Rahma, her mother Astuti and her two children were taken to the National Police headquarters for further questioning.

Arina was arrested as she was allegedly Noordin’s wife.

“Once we confirm that Arina’s husband is really Noordin M. Top then her status would be developed as a suspect, as she will be accused of having collaborated with a police target,” an officer said recently.

Popular

Retail sales, consumer confidence ease as Idul Fitri boost dissipates

Students to rally against Prabowo amid economic pressures

State budget injection into Danantara could raise fiscal risks