Gunawan inquired how to obtain arms, police says
Gunawan inquired how to obtain arms, police says
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A key witness told police that Gunawan Santoso, a fugitive who
escaped from Kuningan Penitentiary in Cirebon, West Java, may
have played a role in the recent shootings of a computer firm
businessman and his bodyguard.
"The witness told investigators that G (Gunawan) had asked him
how to get firearms before the shooting when they shared a cell
in Kuningan," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said on
Saturday.
Based on a statement by the witness, whose identity and
whereabouts are being kept confidential for safety
considerations, Prasetyo said that Gunawan was now wanted not
only for his escape on Jan. 15 this year, but also for
clarification over the witness' statement.
Gunawan is a former son-in-law of the late Boedyharto Angsono,
60, president director of computer and office appliance
distributor PT Asaba, who was gunned down by an unidentified man
in the parking lot of Sasana Krida sports stadium in North
Jakarta. The killer also shot dead First Sgt. Edy Siyet, 33, a
member of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus).
The shooting was less than two months after Asaba's finance
director Paulus Tejakusuma was shot on crowded Jl. Angkasa,
Central Jakarta. He survived in the murder attempt but suffered
severe injuries.
Police said Gunawan had been two years into his two-year-and-
seven-month prison sentence. He was convicted for embezzling Rp
40 billion (US$4.7 million).
Prasetyo said the police wanted Gunawan to shed light on
whether or not he was involved in the shooting.
"The police have yet to declare him a suspect in the shooting.
If he is innocent, he must prove it to police investigators," he
said.
A senior detective in charge of the pursuit of Gunawan claimed
earlier that the fugitive was in the capital.
The detective said that Gunawan was ready to surrender on
Thursday, but apparently changed his mind.
North Jakarta Police conducted a reconstruction of the
shooting at the crime scene on Saturday morning.
Police have been tightlipped for days over the progress of the
investigation. They have repeatedly declined to reveal what
progress they have made and simply say that the case is still
being investigated.