Police arrest another trigger-happy civilian
Police arrest another trigger-happy civilian
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
If director Michael Moore was to make a sequel to his Oscar-
winning documentary Bowling for Columbine, he might have eyed
Jakarta as his next film location to depict a gun-crazed people,
as the city has seen three incidents involving trigger-happy
civilians within a month.
The latest incident occurred on Monday at around 11:30 p.m.
when Raja Sapta, 30, and Moris Ambarista, 22, pointed their
pistols at security guard Emir Manoppo at Tee Box cafe on Jl.
Wijaya, South Jakarta.
The two residents of Menteng, Central Jakarta were arrested by
the South Jakarta Police, whose headquarters is just across the
street from the cafe.
"We will charge Raja under Article 336 of the Criminal Code on
intimidation and probably Emergency Law No. 12/1951 for
possessing arms without a license," South Jakarta Police chief
Sr. Comr. Ghufron said on Tuesday.
He added that the police were still waiting for the suspects
to show their ownership documents for the guns: an FN 9
millimeter pistol and a Colt .38 caliber, or 9 mm pistol. They
told police that they had the licenses but were not carrying them
that night.
Police also seized both guns and two bullet shells from the
Colt. No bullets were found in the FN.
The incident occurred only a week after comedian Edy Supono,
whose stage name is Parto, was detained at Setiabudi Jakarta
Police Station for several days, for firing his Czechoslovakian-
made BRNO 9 millimeter CZ83 into the air at Planet Hollywood,
South Jakarta, damaging the ceiling of the restaurant.
Police did not detain Cipto Jiara Ponan, 29, on Aug. 10 for
firing six bullets into a Toyota Kijang minivan that had hit his
Porsche Cayenne Turbo in Pademangan, North Jakarta.
According to the police, civilians are only permitted to own
registered firearms of less than a .32 caliber, or 7.65 mm.
Higher caliber firearms are licensed only to police and military
personnel.
Last year, about 800 civilians were registered in the city as
gun owners, while registered civilian firearm owners number 9,702
nationwide.
Gun owners must undergo an annual assessment of their
suitability to possess a firearm, including target shooting and a
psychiatric test.
Monday's incident was sparked by Raja, who started a brawl at
the parking lot with another visitor. Raja was drunk.
Emir tried to calm him down, asking him to leave the cafe but
Raja got very upset and pushed Emir until he fell down. Raja
later took his FN and aimed it at Emir's leg. He pulled the
trigger five times but apparently the gun was empty.
He was later restrained by other guards and police officers.