Probe into Sofjan's case continues

JAKARTA (JP): The probe into the fatal shooting of the North Jakarta police officer Sofjan Sani continues, with two officers, believed to be the shooters, still being intensively questioned.

City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said, on Thursday, that the police were still hoping to collect more material evidence.

"Police have so far questioned five witnesses. We plan to question more witnesses in order to analyze the case more thoroughly," Hamami said.

The witnesses and the alleged shooters were not detained, he said. Sources said that 2nd Lieutenant Pujo and Chief Sergeant Agus, the alleged trigger-happy officers, had been detained at City Police headquarters soon after the shooting.

Second Sergeant Sofjan was shot dead earlier this month in East Jakarta by fellow police officers from the North Jakarta police precinct.

Police reports said that Sofjan, who was in uniform but wearing a black jacket, was caught red-handed when he was extorting a bus driver.

Reports said that Sofjan tried to resist arrest before the two officers gunned him down.

Brig. Gen. Nurfaizi, National Police spokesman, has defended the shooting, saying that the shooting of criminals, including Sofjan, is a defensive action by officers. (cst)