Police arrest fake soldier

JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested a 23-year-old man for impersonating a First Lieutenant from the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), the city police chief said on Sunday.

Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said the man, who claims to be a student at a private university in Jakarta, was being detained at city police headquarters for further questioning.

The man, identified as Wira Bawana, is a resident of Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan in the Sukasari district of Tangerang. Wira was caught extorting money from a motorist on May 7 in Tangerang.

When he was arrested, Wira was wearing a Kopassus uniform bearing the identity of First Lt. Heldy W.R.

"We'll investigate his motives. We have developed the case and found five other Army uniforms in his house," Noegroho said.

Noegroho, however, refused to name the university the man claimed to attend, saying police needed time to develop the case.

Wira said he often visited Army headquarters to learn about their plans in dealing with protesting students. He then reported the plans to the students, Noegroho said.

The man also admitted to stealing a Kijang van belonging to Suharto, a resident of Tomang, West Jakarta, in April.

"From late-1998 to early-1999, the (Army) uniforms were often used to collect debts in the Tangerang area. He (Wira) said that it was easier to collect money if he wore the Army uniforms," Noegroho said. (emf)