Soldier on trial for murder, drug charges<\/p>\n
Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
A Navy officer who shot five soldiers in late August went on
\ntrial for murder at a military court in Banda Aceh on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In the hearing, a prosecutor ruled out an earlier claim by the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) that the defendant, First Lt. Frederick
\nSimorangkir, shot the five colleagues due to severe depression.<\/p>\n
According to prosecutor Capt. Bambang Indrawan, the defendant
\nsprayed bullets at his colleagues while under the influence of
\ndrugs.<\/p>\n
Reading the indictment, Bambang told the court that the
\nincident began when Frederick and other military personnel got
\ntogether on Aug. 22 in a house near the Neusu Jaya military base
\nin Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
The get-together was hosted by First. Lt. Dedi Hermawan as a
\nreunion between the seven soldiers, including Dedi and Frederick.
\nWhile his friends were busy inhaling crystal methamphetamine
\n(shabu-shabu), Frederick went into another room of the house at
\n12:30 a.m. According to his friends, Frederick \"looked crazy and
\nwas acting very weird.\" His friends failed to calm him down.<\/p>\n
By 4 a.m., Dedi had lost patience with Frederick and told him
\nto return to the barracks. Frederick refused and they started to
\nquarrel.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, Frederick picked up his gun and shot at everyone in
\nthe house, including Dedi. Four died instantly and another
\nescaped. Chief Pvt. Wawan was the only one to escape death.<\/p>\n
If found guilty, Simorangkir could face at least 20 years'
\nimprisonment, in addition to being dishonorably discharged from
\nthe military.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/soldier-on-trial-for-murder-drug-charges-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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