'Suspects in Juanda shooting used FN pistols'

'Suspects in Juanda shooting used FN pistols'

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Police revealed on Monday that the four suspects in
the bloody shooting on Jl. Juanda in Central Jakarta used FN
pistols which are generally used by military personnel, but
police are still unsure about the motive and identity of the
suspects.

"From our investigation, we found that the suspects used FN-
type pistols that are usually owned by military personnel. But,
that doesn't necessarily mean that the suspects have links (to
the military)," said Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul
Padmanagara on Tuesday.

Makbul admitted that the motive for the shooting was still
unclear though police suspect that it was related to a previous
incident in which four passengers of a Mazda Cronos sedan
quarreled with Solihin, a parking attendant who is one of the
victims.

Three people were shot dead and two others injured in broad
daylight in Monday's shooting. They were identified as Solihin, a
parking attendant, Mochtar, a security guard, and Bambang, a
driver, who were standing by the roadside when four men opened
fire at about 11:30 a.m.

Solihin died instantly from a gunshot wound to the stomach,
while Mochtar was shot in the head and Bambang in the chest.

Makbul admitted that the police had not anticipated the
incident that occurred only hundreds of meters from the tightly
guarded presidential palace.

Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Andi Chaeruddin
said police were still hunting the suspects.

"We have identified the suspect's car," Andi said.

Andi confirmed that the four suspects in the shooting rode two
RX King motorcycles.

Meanwhile, Makbul and Andi briefed reporters on the progress
of the investigation into the grenade explosion that occurred
close to a property of the United States government on Jl. Teluk
Betung, Central Jakarta that claimed the life of the suspect,
Abdul Azis.

During the briefing, Makbul revealed that conflicting
statements between senior police officials were related to
developments in the evidence found by police at the scene of the
crime.

"Right after the blast, amid strong rumors about threats to
the U.S. Embassy as well its properties here, and the confusing
statement of Yusuf, one of the suspects, we concluded that the
assault was likely meant to blow up the U.S.-owned property,"
said Makbul.

However, Makbul said the evidence found at the scene and
statements from the suspects, had led to motives related to a
debt repayment.

Shortly after the grenade blast, National Police chief Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar revealed that the abortive grenade attack was meant
to blow up the U.S.-owned building. However, later Makbul
corrected Da'i's statement, saying that the attack was related to
a debt payment.

The case now implicates two businessmen Hasjim Setiono and
Juanda Lesmana in which the former owed the latter some
US$400,000.

"However, although the facts lead to a common case of debt
repayment, we are still open to theories about other motives as
we are tracking down other suspects in the grenade attack," said
Makbul referring to two suspects, Tata and Lili who are still at
large.