2 nabbed in connection with FPI shooting

2 nabbed in connection with FPI shooting

JAKARTA (JP): Police detectives from Central Jakarta arrested
two men believed to have shot dead a senior figure of the Islam
Defenders Front (FPI) here about seven weeks ago.

Police identified one of the suspects as Muchdar, a nephew of
the victim Saleh bin Abdullah Alatas.

Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Supt. Adjie Rustam Ramdja
told reporters on Tuesday that Muchdar was arrested in
Pandeglang, West Java, on Monday morning, while his accomplice,
Massurul, a street vendor in Slipi, West Jakarta, was arrested on
the following day in Slipi.

The police confiscated an FN 45-millimeter caliber gun along
with 75 bullets from Muchdar, who claimed to have purchased it
from a retired military officer.

Based on the police findings so far, Adjie concluded that the
two were the only perpetrators in the killing of Alatas on July
23, which allegedly took place after a family dispute over a plot
of land and a house on Jl. Percetakan Negara IX Blok MI/6.

The house and land belonged to the parents of Alatas, Adjie
said.

The dispute occurred after the Central Jakarta District Court
recently issued a ruling in favor of Muchdar's ownership of the
land. The court's verdict was later upheld by the Jakarta High
Court.

According to Adjie, Muchdar was upset with his uncle, Alatas,
saying that the latter had always prevented him from taking
ownership of the land.

In July, for example, Alatas -- under the escort of several
FPI members -- held a mass prayer at the disputed site when the
staff of the district court attempted to execute its verdict,
based on the High Court's decision of July 13, 2000.

During questioning, the two suspects admitted to have carried
out the execution.

Alatas was shot by two men on a motorcycle in front of his
house on Jl. Percetakan Negara, when he was about to perform his
Subuh (predawn) prayer at a nearby An-Noor mosque.

After the shooting, the two managed to escape but the police
tracked them down, said Adjie.

The police learned from Massurul that he was willing to help
Muchdar, who often helped him financially, to kill the victim
without receiving any payment.

"Massurul rendered his help as a way to repay Muchdar's
kindness," he said.

"The killing was meticulously planned by the two and they
could be charged with the maximum punishment of a death
sentence," Adjie said. (lup)