Man held for firearms possession

TANGERANG: Three policemen arrested on Wednesday morning a discotheque owner in the possession of three firearms and 283 bullets on the Jakarta-Merak toll road near the Bitung toll gate, west of the Tomang intersection.

Ali Basuki Sani Lumbun, who owns a discotheque on Jl. Gajah Mada in West Jakarta, had pulled his Daihatsu jeep over into the emergency lane when the officers approached him.

When it was determined that the 54-year-old man was intoxicated, the police decided to bring him to a nearby police post. However, the suspect refused to go with the officers and opened fire on one of the three officers. The officer was unharmed, and the suspect was taken to Tangerang Police Headquarters.

Ali said he was on his way to his second wife's house in the Citra Raya housing complex in Bitung.

"The weapons and bullets are not mine. They were given to me by a customer named Robert as collateral for his unpaid loans," he said.

Police detective Deputy Insp. Kustanto said besides the firearms and bullets, police also found a press card and a marketing card issued by a local daily newspaper. -- JP