Two drunk ABRI members booked

JAKARTA (JP): Two members of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) were arrested for drunkenness by East Jakarta Police late Saturday after an altercation in a bar.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Sunday the two red beret members were identified as Pvt. class I Albert and Sgt. class I Ismail. Their friend, Sgt. class II Rafli, fled the scene when they were taken to a nearby police station for questioning.

The incident occurred at 11:30 p.m. at Matoari Bar on Jl. Raya Bogor, Lubis said.

"The three were involved in a fight with a bar patron. When local police arrived at the scene and tried to separate the men, the three were furious," Lubis said.

Rafli went to Kopassus Headquarters at Cijantung to report the arrest.

"Dozens of Kopassus members then went to the police station, demanding their friends be immediately released," Lubis said.

The Army Members were received by a senior officer at the station, who explained that their colleagues would be released after questioning.

"The two underwent questioning as part of the legal process," Lubis said, adding that public drunkenness by Army members constituted a breach of discipline. (emf)