Indonesian spy to face charges over activist`s murder: police

A former top spy in Indonesia's intelligence agency is facing charges of premeditated murder over the 2004 poisoning death of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, police said Friday.

Muchdi Purwopranjono, an ex-deputy chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), turned himself in to police in Jakarta late Thursday and was formally declared a suspect, meaning he can be held in custody, police said.

"He is accused of premeditated murder and could be charged with article 340 of the Indonesian criminal code," senior detective Bambang Hendarso was quoted by AFP as saying.

The crime of premeditated murder carries the death penalty in Indonesia.

Former Garuda Indonesia pilot Pollycarpus Priyanto was jailed for 20 years in January for poisoning the activist with arsenic during a journey on the flag carrier from Jakarta to Amsterdam via Singapore.

Former Garuda boss Indra Setiawan was also jailed for one year as an accessory for helping with the plot.

Munir's case has drawn international attention as ...