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.