Trigger-happy officer under fire

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said that a low- ranking officer, identified as Chief Brig. IBN, may be taken to court for allegedly discharging his firearm during a brawl at Centro Discotheque, Dharmawangsa Building, South Jakarta.

"We are holding him and other police officers for questioning by the Jakarta Police internal affairs division," Firman said on Monday.

"They may face a disciplinary hearing or civilian court for allegedly visiting a discotheque and carrying firearms while not on duty," he added.

Jakarta Police internal affairs division questioned the suspect, who is a detective at South Jakarta police station, over the incident on Saturday night.

They have also questioned three of IBN's colleagues that night as witnesses: Brig. Sdl, an officer at Jakarta traffic police; Adj. Second Brig. Nrt, a student at the police school; and Comr. SR, a narcotics detective at the National Police.

They were questioned in response to complaints filed separately with the police by Dharmawangsa Building management and by Raditya, a son of lawyer Henry Yosodiningrat who claimed he was assaulted by IBN and his friends at Centro.

Information gathered by The Jakarta Post revealed that on Saturday night, IBN, along with his girlfriend, and his friends Sdl, Nrt and an unidentified civilian, visited Centro.

In the disco, SR was reported to have made a pass at IBN's girlfriend, infuriating IBN, who was drunk.

IBN and his three friends assaulted SR outside the disco. Raditya, who was about to leave Centro, recognized SR as his father's friend and tried to help him.

IBN turned to Raditya and chased him while pointing a gun at him while one of his friends pointing a sickle at Raditya, who was later rescued by security guards.

As the brawl got uglier, IBN fired his weapon into the air several times, causing Centro visitors to panic.

Afterwards, IBN's group ran to cafe La Vonta nearby, where they had parked their vehicles. Sugeng, the parking attendant, said that IBN rode a Harley Davidson, while three others got into their own vehicles. When Sugeng tried to stop them as they had not yet paid the parking fees, IBN pointed his gun at Sugeng, ordering him to raise the barrier.

Jakarta Police internal affairs division arrested for questioning on Sunday all of the policemen involved in the brawl.