Six involved in Blok M police murder: Witnesses
Six involved in Blok M police murder: Witnesses
JAKARTA (JP): Witnesses in a trial of two men charged with the
murder of a police officer in Blok M last March told the court
yesterday that six men were involved in the fatal attack on two
police officers.
All five witnesses testifying at the South Jakarta District
Court yesterday said only six hoodlums attacked Lt. Budi Prasetyo
and Capt. Arman Depari at the Blok M shopping complex. Official
reports put the number of attackers at 10.
Budi Prasetyo died with stab wounds to his stomach, while
Arman escaped the attack.
Two of the witnesses, Reza Lawalata and Idris Tuarita, are
also being charged with the offense. They are being tried
separately by the same court.
The other three witnesses: Stephanus Vancapele, Rudi Lasatira
and Robinson Timisela, are also suspected of involvement in the
murder.
On trial yesterday were defendants Amirsan Liskaloho and
Zulkifli Namuharuri.
The five witnesses also denied any involvement in the deadly
attack and withdrew their previous statements made to police,
saying that the statements were made under police pressure.
According to the prosecutor, the ten men involved in the
attack are Mario, Franky, Amirsan, Zulkifli, Reza, Idris, Rudi,
Robinson, Jimiko and Amir. Only four of them are being tried.
Two suspects, Mario and Franky were gunned down by officers
for resisting arrest soon after the attack.
The prosecutor said the two off-duty police officers were
attacked by a group of street hoodlums in Blok M shopping
complex, South Jakarta in March following a heated quarrel.
The death of Lt.Budi Prasetyo sparked strong reactions from
police, as well as city military officials, who then launched a
major clean-up operation against hoodlums in the city.
More than 15,000 street hoodlums in the city were arrested
during the operation. Some 1,500 of them underwent training
courses at city police and military headquarters as well as at an
Islamic boarding school. Dozens were put on trial and most of
them were reprimanded.
Presiding Judge I Gusti Ngurah Somya adjourned the trial until
tomorrow. (29)