Businessman shoots buddy over PC game

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Authorities have one more reason to ban civilian gun ownership.

Businessman David Chendy, 25, shot his friend Budi Irawan, 26, in the leg after he continuously teased the former on Thursday evening.

David and Budi were competing in a computer game at an Internet outlet in Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

Budi, who kept on winning game after game, reportedly teased David repeatedly.

David managed to keep his cool until they finished playing, but when Budi taunted David again in the parking lot after the game, the young businessman pulled out his gun and shot Budi in the leg.

"I couldn't control myself after he (Budi) kept on teasing me during our game. I don't know what happened, but all of a sudden I saw Budi falling to the ground with blood on his leg," David told police officers during questioning.

David was interrogated by police at Penjaringan Police Station while Budi was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police confiscated a .9 caliber Falcon gun and five bullets from David.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said that the gun was licensed and David had a permit to use it.

"Although he has a license, we will still interrogate him as he has injured someone. We will review his license," Tjiptono told The Jakarta Post.

David will be charged under Article 351 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum punishment of five years imprisonment.

Observers and activists have urged police to tighten, or even stop licensing guns for civilians following the fatal shooting of waiter Yohannes Berchmans "Rudy" Haerudy Natong by businessman Adiguna Sutowo at the Hilton hotel's Fluid Club Bar on Jan. 1.

The police have issued gun licenses to 16,000 civilians across the country.