Military members arrested for stealing cows in Kupang
Military members arrested for stealing cows in Kupang
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) said on Monday they arrested
at least seven armed military (TNI) personnel for stealing six
cows belonging to residents in Sulamu village, some 100
kilometers from the provincial capital of Kupang.
NTT Police Chief Brig. Gen. Jacky Uly said the soldiers were
caught "red-handed" on Sunday, along with seven civilian
suspects, by members of the Kupang district police and the
provincial Mobile Brigade (Brimob).
The seven accused soldiers were later turned over to the local
Military Police for investigation, he was quoted by Antara as
saying in Kupang.
Jacky said the police confiscated four SS1 firearms, 47
bullets and 12 magazines from the suspects. Also seized as
evidence were the six stolen cows, which had been shot.
The seven TNI members included group commander First Lt. A.H.
and six of his subordinates belonging to the Yonif 743/Pradnya
Samapta Yudha unit based in Kupang.
The seven civilian suspects are being detained at the Kupang
police station for investigation, Jacky said.
Kupang Military Police chief Maj. Subur Pambudi was quoted by
Antara as confirming that his office is questioning the seven
soldiers on charges of theft.
"We have detained them as suspects in a crime of theft using
firearms. We have also gathered evidence of their involvement in
the crime," he said.
Subur said the suspects, however, denied any wrongdoing and
instead claimed they were just out hunting for animals or wild
cows in Sulamu village.
Kupang's Wirasakti Military Chief Col. Moeswarno Moesanip
expressed regret over the arrest of his soldiers. "They have made
a serious mistake amid efforts by military leaders to recover the
tarnished image of the Indonesian Military among the public."
Moesanip said he does not rule out the possibility of removing
the troops from the military should they be found guilty of
stealing the cows.
Subur further pledged to take the men to the military court of
justice, and that they could be dishonorably discharged from the
military before their trial begins.