Musician arrested for carrying gun

Musician arrested for carrying gun

JAKARTA (JP): Police took noted jazz musician Idang Rasyidi
into custody for the possession of an unregistered handgun, an
officer said on Tuesday.

South Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Insp. Achmad Alwi
said the 39-year-old keyboardist was taken into custody last
Saturday at his house in East Pamulang, South Jakarta.

Alwi denied speculation the musician had been placed under
arrest, although he was still being kept at the station as of
Tuesday night.

"That's right. He is still in our hands. However, we only need
clarification from him about the matter," he told The Jakarta
Post.

The musician, the former host of the popular Berpacu Dalam
Melodi musical quiz show, was taken to the station following an
incident near his home in the Villa Inti Persada housing complex.

The incident began as an argument with a security guard from
the housing complex and soon escalated as local youths came to
the support of the security guard.

The musician then brandished a FN 22 handgun to frighten the
youths and the security guard, Alwi said.

Upon learning of the incident, local residents reported Idang
to the police.

A number of officers arrived at Idang's home and escorted the
musician, who often appears on Indosiar's Tembang Kenangan
musical show, to the police station.

When asked if the musician would be prosecuted, Alwi said the
police were still conducting an investigation.

"We have not charged him yet. The investigation is still
ongoing," he said. (asa)