16 people named as 'agitators'
JAKARTA (JP): The city police named yesterday 16 people as suspected agitators of the mid-May riots.
City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang told journalists the suspects were among the 36 people who had been wanted by the police for their alleged role in instigating mobs to destroy and burn and loot properties during the May 13 to May 15 unrest in the capital.
"We arrested these 16 suspected agitators between July and August based on the testimonies of 1,919 looters netted during and after the riots," Aritonang said.
Of the sixteen suspects, three would be brought to trial soon as their dossiers had been handed over to the prosecutor's office, he said.
"The dossiers of the other suspects are still being prepared," the officer added.
Aritonang identified the suspects as Belek, Edi Siswanto, Matsroji, Agustinus, Epon, Sukarman, Subur, Matsari, Teguh, Yadi, Sofyan Arief, Sofran, Iwan Supriyatna, Ali Sofyan, Anton Medan and Rizal.
Of the 16, only the last two have not been detained because their relatives guaranteed they would not flee, he said.
The remaining suspects have all admitted the crimes, Aritonang said.
Belek and Edi confessed to instigating the crowds to destroy and torch the Matraman Police station in East Jakarta, he said.
Matsjori admitted his role in the looting and arson at Plaza Sentral shopping center in Klender, East Jakarta, while Agustinus and Epon owned up to burning the Pasar Rumput Police post in South Jakarta, the officer said.
Duet Sukarman and Subur said they agitated crowds to rob and destroy Bank BCA in Muara Karang, Kapuk, North Jakarta.
Matsari admitted that he led an angry mob to loot and set ablaze the Naga shopping mall in Pondok Ungu in Bekasi and Teguh confessed to similar offenses at properties along Jl. Margonda Raya in Depok, Aritonang said.
Yadi, Ali and Sofyan Arief reportedly said they masterminded the burning of the Megaria Police post in Central Jakarta.
Sofran and Iwan allegedly said they provoked people to destroy the Mitsubishi show room on Jl. Raya Ciputat, South Jakarta. (edt)