Militia head queried about illegal gun

Militia head queried about illegal gun

JAKARTA (JP): The leader of an East Timor prointegration group
has been questioned by East Nusa Tenggara Police in connection
with the illegal possession of a weapon, police said on Thursday.

Col. Saleh Saaf of the East Nusa Tenggara Police said by
telephone Eurico Guiterres was questioned by local police in
early March and the investigation was ongoing.

"He had an FN-45 pistol and we received reports that the gun
was illegal," Saleh told The Jakarta Post.

Saleh stressed that police "have not arrested Eurico, he is in
police custody due to the questioning".

However, Saleh made it clear police had named Eurico a
suspect, saying "he is a suspect because he admits that the gun
is his".

If convicted, Eurico could face up to seven years in prison.

Eurico, an East Timorese who led the armed militia Aitarak,
reportedly has close ties with some Indonesian Army
officers.(emf)