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)