No political motive behind shooting of Hendro's car

JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Military Command announced yesterday that there was no political motive behind Wednesday's "shooting" of Commander Maj. Gen. Hendropriyono and called the incident as "committed by a man who lost his control."

"There was no shooting of the commander. The man fired three times into the air because he could not contain his anger, not aware that the car of the commander was behind him," chief of staff of the Jakarta Military Command, Brig. Gen. Wiranto, told reporters at a press conference yesterday.

The press conference was quickly arranged by the military command following contradictory press reports about the shooting.

Newspapers reported that Bambang Rusmintarjo, 41, a high- ranking official of the Immigration Directorate General in charge of citizenship affairs, shot at Hendro on the Jagorawi toll road on Wednesday evening.

Hendro is the popular name of Maj. Gen. Hendropriyono.

Hendro was on his way home in the Cibubur housing complex, East Jakarta. Bambang himself was heading to his home in Bogor.

The papers reported yesterday that a bullet hit Hendro's car.

"The reports were incorrect. There was no bullet hitting the car. The man fired into the air, apparently not aware that the commander was behind him," said Wiranto.

According to Wiranto, Hendro went home from his office around 11 p.m. in his official car driven by his chauffeur in the company of his personal aide Second Lt. Chairil.

Some three kilometers away from the Taman Mini toll gate, his chauffeur intended to overtake a green "Mazda Interplay" sedan carrying the plate number of F 26 AD, driven by Bambang.

Hendro's chauffeur flashed the car's high beam to let Bambang know of his intention to overtake him.

"Bambang kept blocking the way despite the signs," said Wiranto.

Bambang became furious at the continued beam signs, brandished his Colt 32 revolver and fired three times into the air.

"During interrogation Bambang said the beams had blinded his vision," he said.

In the wake of the incident, Lt. Chairil sent a radio message about the incident to the Bogor police.

Wiranto said the police captured Bambang at his residence at Jl. Martadinata 26, Bogor, two-and-half hours later.

Media Indonesia reported Bambang tried to resist the arrest, firing twice to deter the police.

Police seized his car, 11 bullets, two air rifles, and the Colt 32 revolver.

Wiranto said that the gun is registered under Bambang's name, but the police are still investigating whether Bambang has a permit to use the gun.

Wiranto said the East Jakarta police has taken over the handling of the case.

However, East Jakarta police chief Lt. Col. Susmono Soesilo refused to comment on the case when contacted by The Jakarta Post and Kompas.

"I have yet to receive an order from the police headquarters whether or not I speak about this case," he said. (03/jsk)