Police arrest Kamra member for stealing handgun

Police arrest Kamra member for stealing handgun

TANGERANG (JP): Ciledug Police have charged a 19-year-old
civilian militia (Kamra) member with stealing a revolver from a
security guard, an officer said on Monday.

Gunawan was arrested shortly after local police detectives
discovered the stolen handgun during a drug raid. The gun was
allegedly in the possession of Dewansyah, 21, a former junior
high school classmate of Gunawan's, Tangerang Police chief Lt.
Pudji Hartanto said.

According to Dewansyah, the gun was in his possession at the
time because he had agreed to pay Gunawan Rp 500,000 (US$58) for
the gun.

Dewansyah did not disclose the reason he wanted a lethal
weapon. Instead he said that he was just unlucky on June 11 when
police found the gun inside his shirt during the raid in Pondok
Pucung.

"I told them I was drug-free, but the officers managed to find
the gun," Dewansyah said.

Officer Pudji said the gun had been stolen on May 25 by
Gunawan from the drawer of Second Lt. Sugiyo, head of the public
guidance unit at Ciledug Police substation, where Gunawan is also
posted.

Gunawan said he stole the gun to help his poor parents put his
three younger siblings through school.

"I just wanted to help my father because his income as an ojek
(motorcycle taxi) driver is far from enough to feed his five
children," said the suspect, who is the second eldest in the
family.

After stealing the gun, Gunawan said he wrapped it in plastic
and buried it in the yard of his family's home in Pedurenan Timur
village, Ciledug.

"My monthly salary of Rp 200,000 as a Kamra member is not
enough to help my parents pay for the schooling of my younger
brothers and sister," he said.

Gunawan said he regretted his wrongdoing.

"I took the wrong way," he said.

According to officer Pudji, Gunawan will be brought to court
in accordance with the law even though he is a Kamra member,
because the crime he committed could have endangered the lives of
other people.

But Pudji did not explain whether he would fire Gunawan, who
-- like other Kamra members in Tangerang -- is under his
supervision as chief of the Tangerang Police.

The officer said that at least 30 Kamra members had been fired
since the introduction of Kamra in late 1998 for misconduct.

The Tangerang Police have hired 2,493 Kamra members.

"But 70 of them resigned after getting better jobs," Pudji
said. (ind/41)