Police chief says shooter a member of 'Paspampres'

Police chief says shooter a member of 'Paspampres'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara confirmed on
Friday that the man who fired into a crowd injuring two people in
Rawasari, Central Jakarta, was a member of the Presidential Guard
(Paspampres).

"Based on our investigations, we can confirm that the shooter
was an on-duty member of the Presidential Guard, who was guarding
an important personage at the time," he said, without giving any
details as to who the "important personage" might be.

Makbul said he had met with the Presidential Guard's commander
and the investigation had now been handed over to the Military
Police.

"As for progress in the investigation, please ask the Military
Police as we are no longer handling the case," he told reporters.

The two victims -- Solomon Simatupang and Abdul Rauf -- were
shot in the chest and stomach respectively. Both are being
treated at the Jakarta Islamic Hospital, Central Jakarta.

Thursday's incident was sparked by a traffic dispute involving
the shooter, whose identity remains unknown, and John Reinhard,
who was traveling in a Nissan Terrano in front of an official
convoy of four Toyota Land Cruisers and a sedan.

John's car got stuck in a traffic jam on Jl. Ahmad Yani,
Central Jakarta, but those in the official convoy became
impatient and started honking their horns.

Due to the traffic jam, John's car was unable to move forward.
However, one of the men in one of the Land Cruisers got out of
his vehicle and began to bang on the window of John's car.

John, who was in the passenger seat, got out of the car and a
fight ensued. John's assailant -- whom witnesses described as
being well built and having a crew-cut -- started to punch John,
after which three other men from one of the Land Cruisers got out
and also attacked him.

John's shouts for help attracted passersby and locals, who
immediately gathered around the cars. One of the four men beating
John took out a gun and fired four shots, two into the air and
two into the crowd, according to witnesses.