Army Reserve Member on Trial for Illegally Trafficking Firearm

Army Reserve Component member Akhmad Soleh Ricardo (34) underwent an indictment hearing at the Denpasar District Court on Thursday (11/6/2026). He is charged with the criminal offence of illegally buying and selling firearms. Public Prosecutor Ni Luh Hartini Puspita Sari from the Denpasar Prosecutor’s Office revealed that the case began when the defendant wanted to own a firearm. He then contacted an acquaintance named MHD Harold Patrick, who is being prosecuted separately, to inquire about buying and selling firearms.

The defendant asked via WhatsApp message whether there was anyone selling a firearm to Harold. Harold, whom the defendant contacted, was a colleague from when they attended Army Reserve Component education in Lahat, South Sumatra. In December 2025, the defendant again asked about the progress of the firearm sale. The reply stated there was a homemade firearm with 9 millimetre calibre sharp ammunition being sold for Rp 15 million with five bullets. The defendant negotiated the price down to an agreed sum of Rp 14 million.

The transaction was conducted via mobile banking transfer to Harold’s account. After payment, the defendant was asked to collect the SIG Sauer pistol and ammunition in Lampung directly, but he requested the items be sent to Bali. Realising the goods were illegal and dangerous, the defendant requested assistance with shipping by having the firearm taped inside a cigarette box and then hidden within a cardboard box of snacks and souvenirs. The defendant then contacted Muh Tegar Khadafi, a defendant in a different case, to ask for help collecting the package to be sent via an expedition service.

The man, who works at a security and cleaning company on Jalan Imam Bonjol in Denpasar, subsequently transferred Rp 200,000 for transport and package delivery costs. Although Tegar knew the package’s contents, he reportedly could not refuse because the defendant was his senior in the Army Reserve Component. In January 2026, the package was received by the defendant and stored at his home on Jalan Gong Suling IV/17, Perum Bukit Pratama, Jimbaran, South Kuta, Badung.

Subsequently, on Tuesday 6 January 2026, the defendant attempted to sell the firearm to his colleague in the Marine Material Army Reserve Component, Alfa Mongkareng, via WhatsApp. The weapon was offered for Rp 35 million along with additional 9 millimetre bullets. The next day, a person named Made from the 2025 Army Reserve Component asked the defendant about the firearm’s availability and whether it had been sold yet. The defendant replied that it had not. After negotiations, a price of Rp 33 million was agreed. On Thursday 22 January 2026, the defendant carried the black SIG Sauer pistol in his motorcycle seat and went to a location on Jalan Buana Raya, West Denpasar District.

Upon arriving at the location, the defendant shared his pinpoint location with Made, who was going to buy the firearm. Shortly afterwards, several people arrived and detained the defendant, taking him to the Denpasar City Police for further legal proceedings. According to the Criminalistics Laboratory examination of evidence, the firearm, a homemade handgun model with a barrel diameter of 9.76 millimetres, was still capable of firing properly. The weapon had no brand or serial number, and no other identity was found on its barrel. The four bullets were active 9x19 millimetre calibre sharp ammunition of the full metal jacket, round nose type that had never been fired.

For his actions, the defendant, who did not have a licence in accordance with Indonesian National Police Regulation Number 1 of 2022, is charged under Article 306 of the Criminal Code.