Navy investigator says marine killed businessman
A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After a two-week investigation, Navy investigators have apparently found the culprits in the assassination of PT Asaba computer firm president director Budi Hartono Angsono and his Army bodyguard Second. Sgt. Edi Siyep.
Navy spokesman First Adm. Adyaman A.S. told a press conference on Wednesday that four marines had admitted their involvement in the murder.
The four were identified by their initials as Second. Lt. SAS, Second Corp. SR, Second Corp. FH and First Pvt. SS, who hail from the Second Marine Brigade based in Cilandak, South Jakarta.
"Second Corporal SR was the shooter in the brutal murder," said Adyaman, while reading out a statement signed by Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh.
Adyaman said the four would likely be charged with premeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of death.
In his first public statement on the matter, Bernard apologized to the country for the incident, saying it was "a severe blow to the Navy Corps" and at the same time it had tarnished the reputation of the military.
The murder took place on the morning of July 19, as Budi Hartono and Edi Siyep were about to play basketball at Sasana Krida stadium in Pluit, North Jakarta.
Edi, a member of the Army's elite unit, Kopassus, was opening his boss' left rear door when SR shot him in the head. Budi tried to run away, but SR shot Budi in the back and head repeatedly, Adyaman said.
Marine Brig. Gen. Soenarko G.A., the head of Navy's internal affairs, said the investigators found nine spent bullet casings at the site.
"Six hit the body of Budi Hartono, and one hit Edi," Soenarko said during the press conference at the Navy Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.
He said SR used a 9mm caliber pistol.
SR was accompanied by at least one of the other three marines, who was waiting on a motorcycle nearby.
According to Adyaman, after the investigation, the four marines admitted that they were hired by Gunawan Santoso, formerly Budi Hartono's son-in-law/business colleague, and now the prime suspect in the case.
Gunawan, who is still at large, was convicted and given two years and seven months in prison after being found guilty in a Rp 25 billion (US$3.05 million) embezzlement case while he was a supervisor in Budi Hartono's company. Gunawan escaped from prison earlier this year.
Police had earlier stated that revenge was possibly the motive behind the murder.
Adyaman said that Gunawan had hired the four marines for the murder and he gave them Rp 2 million to execute Budi Hartono.
"The amount may be small, but the four marines have been emotionally close to Gunawan as they have known him since 1998," said Adyaman.
Adyaman said that the investigation could be completed at the end of August, to enable a speedy prosecution.
The investigators have recommended dishonorable discharge from the military as well.
Meanwhile, in his statement, Bernard said the Navy would also investigate whether their direct superiors were in any way involved.
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has acknowledged that many soldiers became involved in illegal activities due to their small salaries, but underlined that the TNI would no longer tolerate this.
The TNI chief, however, said he could not prevent military personnel from providing security to individuals or companies due to the absence of law regulating the issue.