Two men caught with illegal guns

Two men caught with illegal guns

JAKARTA (JP): Two men have been detained for recent firearms
offenses, the police have announced.

The first suspect, Edi Suhendar, 32, was caught red-handed in
a room at Hotel Sofyan in Tebet, South Jakarta, last Friday while
trying to sell a 38-mm Colt and six bullets for Rp 15 million
(US$1,150) to a plainclothes officer, city police spokesman Lt.
Col. E. Aritonang said Monday.

"We've received tips that he had been involved in a series of
illegal gun transactions," Aritonang said.

During questioning, Edi said he obtained the pistol from a gun
broker named Dani, 40.

"He said he bought the gun for only Rp 1.5 million with seven
bullets, one of which he used to test the weapon," Aritonang
explained.

Dani is still at large.

The second suspect, Amir Machmud Syarifuddin, 49, was
handcuffed at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport with a 9-mm
P.A. Knall gun plus 25 bullets last Tuesday shortly after his
arrival from Germany.

According to deputy National Police spokesman, Col. Bambang
Haryoko, Amir's gun was spotted in his bag when it went through
the X-ray scanner.

"He said he acquired the gun in Germany," Bambang said.

Both cases are still under investigation.

Thousands of city residents, mostly of Chinese descent, have
reportedly bought guns for self-defense following the mid-May
riots. (edt)