7 policemen quizzed over fatal shooting

7 policemen quizzed over fatal shooting

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police stated on Tuesday that they were interrogating seven
police officers over stray shootings that claimed the life of two
girls, a toddler and a 12-year-old, in Taman Sari, West Jakarta,
on Monday.

"Although the shootings by the officers were unintentional,
they still face legal proceedings," said Jakarta Police spokesman
Sr. Comr. Prasetyo.

The officers are: First Insp. Heru Julianto, First Brig. Mifil
Rifadas, Brig. Aang Kaharudin, First Brig. Arman, Chief Brig.
Emirsyah, First Brig. Budi and Second Insp. Ronny Syahroni.

Prasetyo claimed the shootings, which killed bystanders Ina
Surtianah, 12, and Eli, a three-and-a-half-year-old toddler, and
injured Eli's mother, Mela Taskina, 28, was "in accordance with
normal practice but there was a procedural failure".

Police claimed that the girls were hit by ricocheting bullets
when one of the policemen fired warning shots at the ground,
instead of shooting in the air amid the crowd.

However, eyewitnesses said the three bystanders were hit by
stray bullets when policeman Ronny chased some alleged drug
dealers and fired at them. The shooting then incited the anger of
residents who seized the policeman and beat him. Subsequently,
six other policemen arrived and started firing in the air with
their pistols to disperse the crowd.

Prasetyo claimed that each police officer had completed the
routine tests and checks necessary before they would have been
allowed to possess arms.

"However, in this case, they (the police officers) found
themselves in a difficult situation due to the crowd.
Nonetheless, they should have held their fire while facing the
crowd," Prasetyo said.

He added the policemen could be charged as ordinary civilians,
under Article 359 of the Criminal Code, with negligence causing
the death of others. The charge carries a maximum sentence of
five years in jail.

Eli was buried in Kuningan, West Java, while Ina was taken by
her family to Cibudek, Jasinga, Bogor, for burial.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI)
demanded the resignation of Jakarta Police Chief Insp. Gen.
Makbul Padmanegara and of West Jakarta Police Chief Sr. Comr.
Bambang Wasgito.

"We also urge the police team involved in the incident to be
arrested and taken to court," said the foundation in a media
release.