Navy investigator says marine killed businessman

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.