Shot bystranders won't sue

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The victims of stray bullets fired by a member of the exclusive Paspampres (presidential guard) have decided not to take legal action against the shooter who caused them to be hospitalized, as they have received compensation from the force.

"We are not going to sue anyone because we are only small people ... we don't have the power to take action against those important people," Solomon Simatupang, 50, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Solomon and Abdul Rauf, 35, were recuperating from bullet wounds to their chest they received two weeks ago while watching a brawl between a guard and motorist in a traffic dispute in Rawasari, Central Jakarta.

As of Tuesday, both victims were still in the Jakarta Islamic Hospital, Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta.

Solomon made clear that there was no need to talk about the shooting incident anymore as everything had already been taken care of, including hospital fees and financial compensation.

Abdul added that he received a modest sum of money from an unidentified person but would not say where it had come from, nor the exact amount.

Although both patients had yet to be informed of when they would be able to go home, a nurse in charge, Sri Mulati, told the Post that the patients had recovered and would be sent home in two or three days.

"They need only undergo some physiotherapy to restore them to full health," she said.

Muhamad Siban, a legal officer at the Jakarta Islamic Hospital added that the hospital expenses would be paid by the Jakarta Health Agency, but he would not reveal the amount.

The incident took place on March 18 when an official convoy of four Toyota Land Cruiser jeeps and a sedan was on Jl. Ahmad Yani on the tail of a Nissan Terrano, with civilian John Reinhard on board.

John's car got stuck in a traffic jam on the busy street, but those in the convoy became impatient and started honking their horns.

One of the men in the Land Cruisers got out 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. Four men from one of the Land Cruisers got out and attacked him.

The brawl attracted passersby and locals, who immediately gathered around the vehicles. According to witnesses, one of the attackers took out a gun and fired four shots, two into the air and two into the crowd, the last two of which hit Solomon and Abdul.

The trigger-happy guard is being questioned by the Jakarta Military Police.

Solomon claimed they were not given immediate help upon arrival at the hospital until he asked a relative, whom he said had an inside contact at the Paspampres force, to get them medical treatment.

"We were abandoned and left to die like animals after we were brought here. We were shot at midday but did not receive medical treatment until around midnight," Solomon said.