Drunk cop allegedly shoots two

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An intoxicated police officer, identified as Brig. Irwanto, 34, allegedly shot two street vendors on Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta early on Wednesday.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said that Abdul Haris, 22, was shot in the shoulder and Achmad Rai, 18, was grazed in the temple when Irwanto opened fire at about 3:30 a.m.

He said the two were taken to the nearby Fatmawati Hospital in South Jakarta and were in stable condition.

"We have detained Irwanto at South Jakarta Police Headquarters for questioning. We will charge him under the articles on assault in the Criminal Code, as well as under the police code of ethics," Ketut said.

He said Irwanto could be fired or demoted if found guilty of any of the charges.

Irwanto, who is with the Kebayoran Lama Police, and an unidentified female companion reportedly stopped by Abdul's kiosk to purchase a can of beer and an energy drink.

For reasons that are still unknown, Irwanto broke a window in the kiosk before paying for the drink.

When Achmad intervened to try and calm the officer, Irwanto pulled out his gun and fired a shot into the air before firing on the two street vendors.

Ketut said Irwanto was not on duty when the incident occurred.

He said the police had regulations governing when officers were allowed to discharge their weapons.

"They cannot use their guns if their lives are not in danger or if they are not on duty," he said.

Despite these regulations, there have been a number of questionable officer-involved shootings of late.

Two months ago, a police officer opened fire inside a cafe in North Jakarta after his credit card was rejected by an employee. Another officer fired a shot into the ceiling of a discotheque in Cengkareng, West Jakarta.