Police chief denies Hercules arrested

04/25/08 18:36

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Police Chief Gen. Sutanto denied on Friday reports that police had arrested youth leader Hercules for implication in rebel activities in Timor Leste.

"There is no arrest of Hercules and no Indonesian national was captured," the police chief said here on Friday.

Sutanto explained that police had only arrested two Timor Leste citizens at Hercules`s house.

They were suspected of involvement in the Timor Leste revolt.

"Hercules himself was not arrested," the police chief stressed.

He said Hercules did not know that the two Timor Leste citizens who stayed at his house were fugitives and suspects in rebel activities in Timor Leste.

Hercules was willing to accommodate them at his house only because of humanitarian consideration and was willing to find them a job, he said.

When police arrested them, police did not find any fire arms, sharp weapons or other illegal items in the house, Sutanto said.

So far, Hercules had often helped Timor Leste citizens with regard to the economic development in that country.

Hercules even tried to convince investors to invest in Timor Leste, the police chief said.

Asked on telephone relations with Timor Leste rebels, Sutanto said Hercules did have telephone links with them but not in connection with rebellion.

Previously, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesian police had arrested three citizens of Timor Leste who were involved in rebellious activities. The three were identified as Egidio Lay Carvalho, Jose Gomes, and Ismail Sansao Moniz Soares.

The three suspects are all members of the military of Timor Leste who were involved in the rebel activities, and suspected of involvement in President Ramos Horta`s shooting incident, he said.

But the police chief said that those arrested were not only three but four.

"Two were arrested in the border area between Indonesia and Timor Leste and the two others at Hercules`s home," Sutanto said.