228 Terrorists Arrested Throughout 2020, National Police Chief: I Chased Upik Lawanga While I Was Still Under The AKBP

National Police Chief General Idham Azis (DOK. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - National Police Chief General Idham Azis explained the performance of Special Detachment (Densus) 88 / Anti-terror in prosecuting terrorists during 2020. A total of 228 perpetrators of terrorism crimes were arrested in various regions.

Of the hundreds of terrorists, Idham highlighted two people who were arrested recently. Both are Upik Lawanga and Zulkarnain.

"Two fugitive terrorists were arrested," said General Idham in his statement, Tuesday, December 22.

Upik Lawanga was the mastermind behind several bomb terror incidents, such as the Tentena Market bomb, the Maesa Market bomb, the Gor Poso bomb, the Central Market bomb, the tengkura rice thermos bomb, the Kawua flashlight bomb, and a series of other terror acts from 2004 to 2006.

Densus 88 Anti-terror arrested Taufik Bulaga (TB) alias Upik Lawanga in Central Lampung Regency, Lampung, on November 23, 2020. He was caught after being fugitive for 14 years.

Meanwhile, Zulkarnain was the perpetrator of the Bali Bombing I who had been a fugitive for 19 years. In addition, Zulkarnain also acts as a high explosive bomb assembler. In addition, he is also a firearm manufacturer with military capabilities.

"Since I was still an AKBP, I have been chasing this Upik Lawanga. With Zulkarnain, the Bali Bombing I," said Idham.

Of the hundreds of terrorists, the current legal process is different. About 70 people have entered the trial stage. Then, 146 people are still in the process of being investigated. Meanwhile, two people have undergone trial. The rest, 10 people were prosecuted.

In prosecuting terrorism perpetrators, the latest Densus 88 Anti-terror arrested 23 people. They are members of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) group.