Marine sergeant's wife upset by mistaken reports
Marine sergeant's wife upset by mistaken reports
JAKARTA (JP): The wife of an injured marine sergeant
complained on Monday about media reports which quoted police
sources as saying her husband was shot dead at a bar.
"After the media reported the death of my husband, my family
members and relatives came to my house to deliver their
condolences. It caused a lot of distress to our family," she told
reporters at Cilandak Marine Hospital in South Jakarta where her
husband was being treated.
She refused to give her first name.
Based on the police report and statement, several media
reported on Monday that marine Chief Sgt. Beni Silaban, 45, was
shot dead by police First Sgt. Ruban Butar-Butar during a heated
argument at Palm Garden Pub in East Jakarta early on Sunday.
The sources included East Jakarta Police chief Col. Hidayat
Fabanxio and head of the Jakarta Police Internal Affairs
division, Lt. Col. Mustofa.
"He was shot to death," Hidayat had said on Sunday.
Both officers could not be reached for comment on Monday.
None of Beni's superiors could be reached on Sunday. On the
same day his family members were not available for comment in
Cililitan Besar, Kramatjati, which was the address collected by
the police.
Sere Silaban, a relative, said on Monday that Beni's family
moved to Depok several months ago.
City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Monday
the mistake was made by his staff but they should not be blamed.
"People make mistakes ... police stations are never clear when
they give us data. I cannot come every day to Jakarta Police
Headquarters to confirm whether a murder occurred or not. I need
my holidays too," Zainuri said.
Beni appeared to be having trouble breathing in his hospital
bed in Cilandak on Monday. Hooked up to intravenous drips, he
occasionally talked in his sleep. A bandage covered the upper
left part of his chest.
It was not disclosed if surgery was performed to remove any
bullets.
Ruban, who immediately reported the incident to his superiors,
was still under questioning by the city police on Monday.
(asa/ylt)