Policeman shoots driver following quarrel
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A police officer shot a minivan driver early on Monday morning following a quarrel at Pondok Artha traffic lights in Kalimalang, Bekasi, causing severe injuries to the victim's right wrist and forehead.
Ali Wardani Tambunan, 31, a driver of public minivan M-19 plying the Cililitan-to-Pondok Kranji route was shot after he argued with plainclothes mobile brigade (Brimob) police officer Chief Brig. Winarto.
Eyewitnesses said Ali quarreled with Winarto after the latter punched Ali for blocking the road. Ali was among a number of drivers who had parked their minivans to wait for passengers.
As Ali attempted to take revenge by attacking Winarto with an iron bar, Winarto shot him with his gun.
Ali was later taken to the nearby Bekasi hospital with wounds to his right wrist and forehead, but due to the serious injuries he was transferred to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta for further treatment.
Dr. Yudi Yuwono, who led the medical team, said Ali was likely to suffer from brain damage, Detik reported.
Meanwhile, Ali's accomplice, Roypen Simanjuntak, said Ali also suffered serious gunshot wounds to his left eye.
"According to several eyewitnesses, Ali was shot at from close range. The bullet penetrated his right wrist and hit his forehead after he tried to block the shot," Roypen said.
Separately, around 200 drivers of M-19, M-26 minivans and minibus 54 staged a rally at Jakarta Police Headquarters to protest the incident and called on the police to punish Winarto.
Tamrin, a driver, said police officers often acted arbitrarily against them.
"Last month, I was beaten by a police officer because I collected passengers at an intersection," Tamrin claimed.
City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam said Winarto was still being grilled over the incident.
"Winarto should not have acted like that. A gun can be used in self-defense but he should have fired warning shots first," Anton said.
He also claimed the police had apologized to Ali's family for the incident and that all the costs of medical treatment would be shouldered by Winarto.