Armed visitor to court apprehended

Armed visitor to court apprehended

JAKARTA (JP): Police carried out a raid yesterday against
suspected armed visitors at the West Jakarta District Court and
arrested one person.

According to City Police spokesman Bambang Haryoko, the
suspect, identified as Salomo H. Pasaribu, was arrested for
illegal possession of a gun and bullets.

"The gun is the pistol type," the spokesman said. "We're still
examining the bullets," he added.

Bambang refused to give further details on the characteristics
of the gun and bullets.

Bambang also gave no further information on the identity of
the suspect or the origin of the gun and bullets.

"He's not a member of the Armed Forces (ABRI)," he insisted.

Witnesses said that the raid, which was carried out prior to
the trial of Yorrys Raweyai from the powerful Pemuda Pancasila
youth organization, ended with the arrest of about 15 persons,
including an ABRI member, not one, as was claimed by the police.

Some said that the 15 people were arrested after police
conducted body searches and found guns and sharp weapons in their
possession.

Some witnesses claimed the raid, led by the head of city
police major crime unit Lt. Col. Gories Mere, was unusual because
it took place at a respectable court office.

Bambang replied: "Do not refer to the search as a raid,
because it was carried out for the sake of court order."

Such similar operations, by law, can be carried out during a
movie at a cinema, for example, if police strongly believed that
there are suspects inside the theater, the spokesman explained.

Yesterday's trial, about the alleged role of Yorrys in illegal
gambling games, was postponed due to the absence of the judges.
(bsr)