Firearms in Sudirman incident examined

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Military Police have checked 374 firearms belonging to the security forces believed to have been used in the fatal shooting of eight people on the night of Sept. 24, an officer said on Monday.

Col. Mungkono M., chief of the Jakarta Military Police, said his office had questioned each of the military units stationed at the Semanggi overpass when the bloody incident took place during the mass protest against the government's controversial bill on state security.

"We have questioned 53 witnesses, including several military personnel, regarding the shooting," he told journalists attending the handover ceremony of the fatal bullet from the forensic team of the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital to the joint investigation team of the Military and the National Police.

The joint investigation team was led by Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, the chief detective of the City Police.

The bullet was taken from the body of 22-year-old Yap Yun Hap, a third year electric engineering student of the University of Indonesia, who many have said was shot by security troops during the clash.

According to the forensic team leader Budi Sampurna, the 5.56 mm caliber bullet was identified as coming from a rifle, most probably a SS-1 rifle.

Budi said the bullet was made of steel and bore the mark of the country's ammunition manufacturer, PT. Pindad. He said that judging from the size of the bullet, the rifle used for the shooting was neither a snipping rifle nor a hunting gun.

Taking part in the bullet examination were experts from the Department of Metallurgy and Material Sciences of the University of Indonesia.

Based on the forensic examination, Budi said the bullet had first hit a hard object, ricocheted, and then hit the victim.

"This explains why the bullet stayed in the victim's body," Budi explained.

Djaja Surya Atmadja, a team member, said the bullet had caused Yun Hap's left lung to fill with blood and after shattering several bones, tore into his throat and gullet.

Budi said the result of the forensic examination will be cross-checked and followed up by the military and police team investigation.

Mungkono speculated that the guns used in the shooting might be modified sporting rifles. (01)