Two police officers face interrogation about killing

Two police officers face interrogation about killing

JAKARTA (JP): The city police have arrested one of their officers for killing a resident in East Jakarta.

Second Lieutenant Burhan Siburian, the 35-year-old head of the Public Guidance unit at the East Jakarta police precinct, has admitted to killing Mangulo Tambunan, 50, in his home in Ciracas.

Chief Sergeant Achmad Ngadiono, 33, was also present at the killing.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said here yesterday that the motive and other details have not been determined and that an interrogation has been underway since Sunday evening.

"Everything is still being examined," Iman said, refusing to say whose gun was used in the crime or if the two officers were wearing uniforms at the time of the killing.

News reports said yesterday that Tambunan, who used his residence for unauthorized gambling, was shot by Siburian on Saturday evening after he refused to give hush money to the lieutenant.

According to the victim's brother, 38-year-old Tigor, Tambunan, who was also a city bus driver, refused to give money to Siburian because he had given the officer Rp 500,000 the day before.

A furious Siburian then pointed a gun at Tambunan.

"Go ahead and shoot. But I won't give you anymore money," said Tambunan as quoted by his brother, Tigor, who was at the scene along with a number of other card players.

Siburian then pulled the trigger and Tambunan fell to the floor with a bullet in the chest. He died on the way to the hospital.

The two officers were arrested by the city military police several hours later and brought to city police headquarters for an internal affairs interrogation.

A reliable source, who asked for anonymity, said at the headquarters that Chief Maj. Gen. Dibyo Widodo was very much upset by the case.

Spokesman Iman guaranteed that the two officers will be brought to court. (bsr)