ABRI faction calls for probe into hotel incident
ABRI faction calls for probe into hotel incident
JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) faction in the House of Representatives called for a thorough investigation yesterday into the shots fired on Sunday at a five-star hotel and the Bank Bumi Daya Tower.
Faction chief Maj. Gen. Suparman Achmad said that the incident deserves special attention because it has "serious" implications.
News that a long-barrel rifle was used has given rise to speculation that an individual from the Armed Forces may have been involved.
Suparman suggested that it should be determined if the rifle came from ABRI's arsenal and what the motive behind the action was. "ABRI has complete lists of its rifles," he said.
Meanwhile, House member Andi Matalatta said the incident should serve as a warning for ABRI to be vigilant against arms abuse by irresponsible members of the armed services.
He said that he believed the shootings were criminal in nature and that they sparked fear of similar incidents in the future.
"This is serious. The use of an assault rifle suggests that security authorities have been negligent in the control of their arms," he said.
Police have interviewed eight witnesses in connection with the incident.
Two of the witnesses told police they heard shots between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. near their homes in Jl. Teluk Betung.
City police spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said yesterday the shots were most likely fired from a skyscraper in Jl. Teluk Betung.
"Both of the witnesses claimed that they only heard the sound and forgot the precise number of shots fired," Iman told reporters.
Police also questioned three other local residents, a hotel employee and two security guards.
Police refused yesterday to comment on speculation that the incident was connected to the wedding reception of movie star Ongky Alexander Harianto and company executive Paula Ayustina Saroinsong.
"It's too early to comment," Lt. Col. Iman said.
Ongky and Paula celebrated their wedding at the hotel on Saturday night.
Paula is an executive of a company run by Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana. Her office is located on the 23rd floor of the Bank Bumi Daya headquarters.
Ongky gained notoriety when he was tried in connection with a land scam involving millions of rupiah, but was found not guilty.
Yesterday, police were examining two slugs from the shooting.
Police have found two spent bullets at the hotel and another in an office in the bank building.
The bullets went through five-millimeter plate glass windows on the hotel's eighth and 11th floors. (pan/bsr)