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.