Thu, 07 Aug 2003

Marines implicated in Asaba shooting

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Navy is currently questioning four Marine soldiers over their alleged involvement in the murders of a businessman and his Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) bodyguard last month.

The four soldiers are identified as Second Lt. SAS, Corporal SR, Corporal FH and First Pvt. SS from the Second Marine Brigade based in Cilandak, South Jakarta, the Navy spokesman, Commodore Adhyaman A. Saputra, said on Wednesday.

"Following the reports of the police and other sources, our internal affairs department have been questioning the four soldiers. They have been detained at the Navy's military police detention center, here (at the Navy headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta) since July 31," he said.

"The investigation is focusing on the murders of PT Asaba president director Boedyharto Angsono and his bodyguard (First. Sgt. Edy Siyet)," he added.

Adhyaman confirmed that the four soldiers had been moonlighting as private security guards for Gunawan Santoso, Boedyharto's former son-in-law. They are also believed to have been implicated in the murders.

Gunawan has been hunted by the police since his escape from Kuningan Penitentiary in Cirebon, West Java, on Jan. 15. Now, he is also wanted for questioning, as witnesses have claimed that he might be involved with Boedyharto's killing.

"The Navy leaders have ordered us to take stern sanctions against the four soldiers, if they are found guilty. The sanctions could include discharging them from the military," Adhyaman said.

"They will probably be charged with committing premeditated murder. However, we must wait for further investigation," he said.

He also emphasized that "the Navy investigators have yet to declare the four soldiers suspects."

The four soldiers could face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment. They will be tried in a military court.

Boedyharto, 60, and Edy were gunned down by an unidentified man in the parking lot of Sasana Krida sport stadium in North Jakarta on July 20.

They were about to play basketball when a man approached them and started to shoot at Edy before shooting Boedyharto.

Boedyharto suffered six shots to the head and body while Edy was shot once in the head. Police found eight spent cartridge cases at the scene.

Boedyharto's driver Darjan, who witnessed the shooting, survived the incident as he remained inside the bulletproof Mercedes-Benz S600 car.

The shooting took place only a month after Asaba's finance director Paulus Tejakusuma was shot in Jl. Angkasa, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. He was severely injured and is reportedly undergoing medical treatment overseas.

Days after the murder, the National Military Police Commander Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B. formed an investigation team comprising of Jakarta Military Police officers and police personnel after learning that the killer used a military standard weapon, either a gun or a rifle, with caliber 9mm.

A source from Boedyharto's family said that the motive behind the murder could be linked to a family feud.

However, Adhyaman said that so far, "the soldiers have yet to inform us who instructed the execution of the murders or what the motive behind them was."