Comedian charged with firing gun

Comedian charged with firing gun

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Edy Supono, a comedian known by his stage name Parto, was
detained on Tuesday at Setiabudi Police station for discharging a
firearm into the air on Saturday at Planet Hollywood, South
Jakarta, damaging the ceiling of the restaurant -- apparently to
avoid answering a probing question from reporters.

Parto was charged with violating Article 1 of Law No. 12/1951
on state of emergency, which carries a maximum penalty of 20
years' imprisonment.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said on Monday he
had recommended that the National Police revoke Parto's gun
license for his Czechoslovakian-made BRNO 9 millimeter CZ83.

"The National Police has the authority to revoke the firearms
license. I can only give a recommendation," he said.

Police said earlier that civilians were only permitted to own
registered firearms smaller than a .32 caliber, or 7.65 mm.
Higher caliber firearms are licensed only to police and military
personnel.

Last year, about 800 civilians were registered in the city as
gun owners, while registered civilian firearms owners number
9,702 nationwide.

Gun owners must undergo an annual assessment of their
suitability to possess a firearm, including target shooting and a
psychiatric test.

Among those who own firearms are lawyers, bank directors and
ministerial or high-ranking administrative officials, whose
occupations are deemed risky.

When applying for his gun license, Parto registered as a
director of his company.

In a separate case of a civilian discharging a firearm, police
did not detain the suspect: Cipto Jiara Ponan, 29, was reported
for firing six bullets into a Toyota Kijang minivan that had hit
his Porsche Cayenne Turbo on Aug. 10 in Pademangan, North
Jakarta.

Police said Cipto was driving on the toll road when the
Kijang, driven by Mulyadi, hit his car, denting the bumper.

Cipto became angry when Mulyadi ignored his gestures to stop,
and fired three bullets into the right side of the Kijang, two
others in the back of the car and the last into the left rear
tire.

The two pulled over and began to quarrel, when a highway
patrol passed and took them to Pademangan Police station.

Pademangan Police, however, released Cipto without charging
him.