Student of Dr. Azahari Caught in Malaysia
Tuesday, 15 April, 2008 | 14:05 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Malaysian police arrested two suspected terrorists, Agus Idrus and Abu Husna two weeks ago. After being sent to Indonesia, they are being kept at the mobile brigade command in Kelapa Dua, Depok.

The police confirmed this news but have not agreed to give more information about the arrest. Head of investigation and criminal division, Indonesian police headquarters, commissioner l Bambang Hendarso Danuri said that Agus is one of Dr. Azahari students in assembling the bomb in Blitar, East Java, in 2005.

Dr Azahari bin Husin, a Malaysian that has been suspected as the brain of the bombing attacks in Indonesia, died on 9 November 2005 in Batu, East Java. He is known as an expert in assembling explosive materials.

Agus, 39 years old, is leader of Jamaah Islamiyah in Poso, replacing Hasanuddin who was caught and imprisoned for 20 years. Agus has been hunted since his group clashed with the police in January last year.

Bambang said that Agus does not not only work in Poso. “We will tell you more tomorrow,” he said. Abu Husna or Abdurrohim, caught with Agus, is head of Markaziyah Jamaah Islamiyah, educational division. He was a teacher at the Ngruki Islamic boarding school in Sukoharjo, Central Java.

Public Relations Division for the Indonesian police, Inspector General Abubakar Nataprawira said that the police will study the case to find their network, especially the main fugitive. “We will study the case to lead us to Noor Din M. Top,” he said.

Dr. Agus Idrus stayed in Petermon village, Sawahan district, Surabaya. The house was rented by Agus's uncle, Kawali, and his mother, Suharti, moved to the behind the house.

Kawali said that Agus graduated from the medical faculty, Airlangga University in 1997. After graduating, he became an assistant for a physician while waiting for his license.

The neighbor visited Agus for free treatment until 2002. Kawali said that Agus moved to Kalimantan after obtaining a physician’s license. “Agus is rarely home since then,” Kawali said. He does not send news often to his parents.

Satuman, community leader in Patemon, still remembers the free treatment given by Agus. “He did not want to be paid, everything was free, many went to him,” he said.

Rohman Taufiq | Desy Pakpahan