Fingerprints not found on Adiguna's gun
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The police laboratory did not find the fingerprints of Adiguna Sutowo on the gun allegedly used in the murder of Yohannes "Rudy" Berchmans Haerudy Natong at the Hilton Hotel in Central Jakarta on Jan. 1.
A credible source at National Police Headquarters told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday the police's forensic laboratory was unable to find Adiguna's fingerprints on the gun.
"Probably, his fingerprints were wiped off after the incident. It should be remembered that we received the gun almost a week after the incident. Many people have held the gun," the source told the Post.
"We anticipated this result and we will proceed with the charges as we have at least five witnesses so far that saw Adiguna pull the trigger," the source said.
Police received the .22 caliber gun from a man identified as Wwn on Jan. 7.
The gun is a silver and black revolver manufactured in the U.S. by Smith and Wesson. Three bullets, similar to bullets found earlier in Adiguna's room, were still inside the chambers.
Ballistic tests confirmed that the bullet that killed Rudy was fired from the gun.
Wwn reportedly told police he saw Adiguna shoot Rudy at 3:30 a.m. inside the Hilton's Fluid Club.
Police have refused to identify Wwn, saying they would protect him until the trial.
Several people close to Adiguna have said that Wwn is Adiguna's bodyguard, while other sources said Wwn just happened to witness the shooting.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said police were questioning Novia "Tinul" Herdiana, a female companion of Adiguna's who has been accused of giving the police false information.
"She has admitted that she was there when the shooting took place after we showed her a receipt proving that she paid at 4:07 a.m. while the incident occurred at 3:30," said Tjiptono.
Tinul, who works at the five-star Mulia Hotel in Jakarta, originally told the police she had left the club at 3 a.m.
Police said they would charge Tinul under Article 242 of the Criminal Code, which states that an individual who gives false information to the police can be punished with up to seven years in prison.