Jailed Bomber Let Out for Coffee at Starbucks

JAKARTA (Reuters) - A Bali bomber serving a life term for his role in the nightclub blasts that killed 202 people was treated by police to an outing at an up-market shopping mall in the Indonesian capital, police admitted Thursday.
Ali Imron was spotted Wednesday sipping coffee at a Starbucks in the central Plaza Indonesia mall, where security has been tightened after a wave of bombings targeting Western interests in recent years.

He was accompanied by Brigadier-General Gorris Mere, who is involved in the Bali investigations, and a number of armed guards, who quickly escorted Imron to a waiting car and drove away after being spotted by reporters.

Police were initially unable to confirm Imron's outing, but Thursday morning, after reports appeared in newspapers, the national police spokesman said the excursion was part of an effort to investigate terror cases.

"As long as it's for the investigation, anything can be done. About the location, it is merely technical. If the examiner or investigator thinks it is necessary then it would be allowed. No problem," said Inspector-General Paiman.

Other police officials said Imron had been brought to Jakarta in connection with another case. Paiman declined to say how long Imron would remain in the capital.

Imron was sentenced to life in jail last September for his role in the 2002 nightclub blasts. The majority of those killed were foreign tourists.

The attacks have been blamed on the regional al Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah militant group, whose suspected spiritual leader, Abu Bakar Bashir, is being held by police pending terror-related charges.

Some of the more than 30 militants convicted over the Bali attacks have testified that they had selected the nightclubs because of their hatred of the West and Western interests.

Three Bali bombers were given the death sentence and remained defiant throughout their trials. However, Imron was handed life in jail after appearing remorseful and repeatedly apologizing for his actions.

© Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.

The Indonesian police must be a really friendly bunch. First they smile together with the bali bomber right in front of journalists and had the picture in front page. And now this, what next I wonder...