Soldier on trial for murder, drug charges

Soldier on trial for murder, drug charges

Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh

A Navy officer who shot five soldiers in late August went on
trial for murder at a military court in Banda Aceh on Thursday.

In the hearing, a prosecutor ruled out an earlier claim by the
Indonesian Military (TNI) that the defendant, First Lt. Frederick
Simorangkir, shot the five colleagues due to severe depression.

According to prosecutor Capt. Bambang Indrawan, the defendant
sprayed bullets at his colleagues while under the influence of
drugs.

Reading the indictment, Bambang told the court that the
incident began when Frederick and other military personnel got
together on Aug. 22 in a house near the Neusu Jaya military base
in Banda Aceh.

The get-together was hosted by First. Lt. Dedi Hermawan as a
reunion between the seven soldiers, including Dedi and Frederick.
While his friends were busy inhaling crystal methamphetamine
(shabu-shabu), Frederick went into another room of the house at
12:30 a.m. According to his friends, Frederick "looked crazy and
was acting very weird." His friends failed to calm him down.

By 4 a.m., Dedi had lost patience with Frederick and told him
to return to the barracks. Frederick refused and they started to
quarrel.

Suddenly, Frederick picked up his gun and shot at everyone in
the house, including Dedi. Four died instantly and another
escaped. Chief Pvt. Wawan was the only one to escape death.

If found guilty, Simorangkir could face at least 20 years'
imprisonment, in addition to being dishonorably discharged from
the military.