Four nabbed in Poso over shooting

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu

Central Sulawesi Police have arrested four people charged with discharging firearms at Jhonli Tumbelaka, a sales executive with cigarette maker PT Djarum, in Parigi Moutong regency.

The four were nabbed on Wednesday in three separate subdistricts in Poso Pesisir, Poso regency, which neighbors Parigi Moutong.

The police confiscated two guns, a rifle and 33 nine millimeter and .38 caliber bullets, as well as three motorcycles.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said on Thursday that the four were arrested after a tip-off from local residents.

"The residents saw the suspects' motorcycles after the shooting and called the police. We tracked down the owner of the motorcycle, which led us to the other suspected perpetrators," said Taufik, adding that police were tracking down two other members of the gang.

He also said investigators were questioning the four as to the motive behind the attack, in which Tumbelaka sustained a severe gunshot wound.

The police will also question the four suspects in connection with the recent shooting of Reverend Susianti Tinulele, who was shot dead while delivering a sermon at Effata Church in South Palu.

The two shootings are thought to be part of a series of attacks aimed at undermining the government-sponsored peace deal, which ended a sectarian conflict that erupted in 2000 in Poso. The three-year bloodshed claimed the lives of about 2,000 Muslims and Christians.

While the situation has become relatively calm, sporadic armed attacks still continue, generally thought to be perpetrated by third parties with a political agenda.