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)