Umar Patek, the suspected mastermind behind the 2002 Bali bombing, who recently arrived in Indonesia from Pakistan, admitted his role in making bombs for the fatal incident that claimed lives of hundreds of people, police say.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Bachrul Alam said police questioned Patek, upon his arrival in Indonesia on Thursday. He is being held at a detention facility in Kelapa Dua, West Java.
"He confirmed that he took part in making bombs for the Bali bombing, that he cooperated with Azahari Husin and that he was involved in Christmas Eve bombings of churches in 2000," Anton said Friday.
Azahari was believed to be the technical mastermind behind both the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings. He was killed in a raid by counterterrorism forces in 2005.
Anton said evidence and witness testimony had been prepared to try Patek under the criminal code.
He said Patek fled to the Philippines after the 2002 bombing, but returned to Indonesia in 2009 to plan more attacks in the country along with Dulmatin, another suspect involved in both Bali bombings. Patek then fled the country again.
He was captured by Pakistani authorities in January and deported Thursday, along with his Philippine wife Rukiyah, Anton said.
"She was arrested in Pakistan for using false identity documents," he said, adding that Patek's wife would likely be tried in Indonesia for using a forged passport.
Police are attempting to determine where Rukiyah obtained her Indonesian passport. (rcf)
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