Garrison questions civilian about uniform, air rifles

JAKARTA (JP): Intelligence officers at the Jakarta Military Garrison questioned on Wednesday afternoon a civilian, sighted earlier in the day at the Senen market in Central Jakarta wearing a complete colonel's uniform.

After questioning, officers searched the residence of the man, identified as Antonius Anwar Halim, 36, on Jl. Bila No. 6 in Cideng Timur, Central Jakarta, where they confiscated four air rifles, a gas gun and a bayonet.

Officers also confiscated an authentic military ID card, and several large framed photos where Antonius was wearing the full uniform.

"The man seems to be disturbed. He claims to be a surgeon, who graduated from the University of Indonesia and works with a friend in private practice," Maj. Wahyu Sapto, the deputy chief of the garrison's military police detachment, said.

He said Antonius admitted he usually wore the uniform to impress his 1.5-year-old adopted child, whom he adores.

"That is his business... but we do mind if he wears the uniform outside his home, and walks around pretending to be a military officer. Even the security guard for the neighborhood unit in which Antonius lives, thinks Antonius is a colonel," Wahyu said.

"He seems to be harmless, but this just proves that military uniforms are easily made and accessible. They can be worn by anybody, even criminals. We do not know how long Antonius has been fooling people with that outfit."

Interviewed later, Antonius said he worked as a surgeon in the private practice of Dr. Wahyudi, who lives across Jl. Musi in Central Jakarta.

"Officers can check out the place if they do not believe me," Antonius said.

He said that since about a month ago, his child seemed to be fascinated by military uniforms on TV.

"So, I decided to buy one and wear it, to impress my child," he said.

When searching his home, Army officers found that Antonius's wardrobe contained several Army jackets and other military wear.

Antonius, who claimed to have enrolled for Navy training in the 1980s but failed the entrance test, said he had caught a military officer laughing at him when he left his house in uniform recently.

"When I asked him why he was laughing, he said that something was wrong with the insignias on my Army jacket. So, I went to Senen to get the jacket fixed," Antonius said.

"There, some Army officers approached me and saluted me. I gave my hand to them... I wanted to shake their hands. They were shocked. They reported me to the garrison. Some officers came by, and took me with them. They brought me here."

When asked what did he need four air rifles and a gas gun for, he said that he used them to "kill mice".

"I have too many mice running around in my house... I have a very small house. The bathroom faces the kitchen. I used to sit near the potty in my bathroom, and aim at the kitchen stove... from behind, when a mouse pops out, I shoot it," he said.

"I have shot dozens of mice, since I bought my rifles at the Tomahawk shop of the Duta Merlin shopping center in West Jakarta, in the mid-80s." (ylt)