Man shot by officer unable to pay bills

Man shot by officer unable to pay bills

JAKARTA (JP): A newspaper seller who has been receiving
treatment at a hospital after being shot controversially by a
military officer in early January is being held there due to
unpaid medical bills of Rp 20 million (US$2,900).

The victim, Widodo, was admitted to the Mediros hospital in
North Jakarta after the random shooting outside the Seribu Satu
Malam restaurant in Kelapa Gading on Jan. 2. His lawyer Abriori
said that about 15 newspaper sellers in the Kelapa Gading area
have lent Rp 5.5 million to Widodo and are desperate to get their
money back.

"They are planning to really do something crazy on the
streets... and that's what scares me. So far myself, Widodo's
uncle Salimin and two military officers have pitched in Rp 9
million," Abriori said.

I Gusti Ketut Putra, an adjutant of Military Police chief Maj.
Gen. Djasrie Marin shot traffic police officer First Sgt. Fikri
Zakaria dead outside the restaurant, located on Jl. Boulevard.
Gusti was allegedly trying to cover up a drug bust and Fikri was
allegedly threatening to expose Gusti. Widodo, passing by at the
time, was caught in the crossfire and was seriously wounded in
his large and small intestines and his urinary duct.

Head of the Jakarta Military Garrison Brig. Gen. Tubagus
Hasanuddin, who had earlier visited Widodo, said the garrison
would demand that the commanders of all concerned parties
involved in the shooting pay for Widodo's hospital bills.

"This shooting was carried out by a crazy man. A very stupid
soldier. Whatever the reason, this should not have happened,"
Tubagus told reporters at the hospital.

Abriori added on Monday that Hasanuddin had, however,
explained to him that this was a "personal matter, not a matter
that the (military) institution should deal with".

"Which is why he pitched in only Rp 2 million, another officer
pitched in Rp 500,000 and I put in Rp 1.1 million," Abriori said.

"I don't know what to do. I know that Gusti has been handed
over to the Jakarta Military Police and might even be fired, but
who will get Widodo out of the hospital?"

Earlier, a source at North Jakarta Police Headquarters said
Fikri apprehended Ketut, his friend Billy Warikkie and Anisah on
New Year's Eve, in possession of shabu-shabu (crystal
methamphetamine) at a house in the Pulomas housing complex.

Fikri tried to blackmail Billy, Anisah and Ketut. Ketut
confronted Fikri, which led to a heated verbal exchange outside
the restaurant. Ketut then dragged Fikri outside, where Fikri was
shot three times. Tubagus told reporters that the friendship
between Billy and Ketut went back to when Ketut was a newly
appointed adjutant of Djasrie.

"They have known each other since 1996. I am still trying to
find out whether Ketut was really Billy's backer... and whether
Billy really is a drug dealer or just a user," Tubagus said.
(ylt)