Soldiers face probe over blast

Soldiers face probe over blast

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col.
Djazairi Nachrowi said on Saturday that strict measures would be
taken against any of its members implicated in the grenade blast
in the Boker red-light district, Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta, early
on Friday morning.

"We'll take stern measures against them, at the very least
disciplinary sanctions, if we find that their presence at the
red-light district was for having a 'good time'," he told The
Jakarta Post.

Military internal regulations stipulate a three-day to 21-day
jail term for violations of disciplinary regulations. Physical
punishment, such as running around a large field in the full
glare of the sun, sometime follow the jail term.

Violators are jailed either in the military police's prison or
in their respective military unit's cell.

Nachrowi denied earlier press reports that two soldiers
injured in the blast had run away from Gatot Subroto Army
Hospital in Central Jakarta immediately after they were admitted
to the hospital.

"The soldiers did not run away. They left the hospital after
light first aid treatment since they only suffered slight
injuries," he said.

He was commenting on an article in local daily here on
Saturday alleging that the two soldiers had run away from the
hospital.

But Nachrowi admitted that his command had still no idea on
the whereabouts of the two men.

Separately, an officer at the Jakarta Military Command denied
that First Pvt. Dandy Saprail, 36, one of the victims of the
grenade blast, was a member of the command's main regiment
(Rindam Jaya).

"We have checked that name, but it does not exist," Col.
Irianto, the commander of the regiment told the Post on Saturday.

He speculated that the city police had made a mistake when
identifying the name.

"If the soldier is a member of my regiment, he should be
another person," he said.

Irianto said his aides were still trying to find out whether a
member of the regiment was a victim of the blast.

"Once we succeed in identifying the soldier, we will hand him
over to the city military police," he said.

He said the presence of military members in gambling or
prostitution dens was intolerable.

"The norms of the Army prohibit them from visiting those
places," he said.

Irianto added that any soldiers violating the norms would face
disciplinary sanctions, either from their respective military
units or the military police.

However, people often observe soldiers, either in uniform or
plainclothes, visiting prostitution or gambling dens seeking
"protection fees" from the management of those places.

The powerful blast on Friday injured at least 12 people,
including five Army and police officers.

A police source earlier identified the five injured officers
as First Pvt. Dandy Saprail, believed to be member of Rindam
Jaya; First Sgt. Armadi from Group IV of the Army's Special Force
(Kopassus); Fajar, whose rank is unknown, also from Kopassus; and
Second Sgt. Hendor Purwanto and First Sgt. Widodo, both from the
Jakarta Police.

The blast occurred after two unidentified people on a
motorcycle threw a grenade at a small bar in the district.

Police are still investigating the type of grenade and the
motive behind the blast. (asa)