Firearms in Sudirman incident examined

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)