Witnesses ID Adiguna as shooter: Police

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta Police said on Tuesday that several of the 15 witnesses questioned over the murder of Yohanes Berchmans Haerudy Natong, or Rudy, 28, have identified businessman Adiguna Sutowo as the waiter's killer.

Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang, chief of detectives of the city police's general crimes division, said his officers had continued to interrogate Adiguna and more witnesses in order to complete the investigation and submit the case file within the next two months to the prosecutor's office.

"We questioned 15 witnesses, and some of them said they saw Adiguna pull the trigger. We also questioned Adiguna several times, although he continues to deny the accusation," Mathius told The Jakarta Post.

Mathius said several witnesses, including Adiguna's three female companions identified as T, W, and V, had testified against the sole suspect, the son of the late Ibnu Sutowo, former president director of state oil and gas company Pertamina.

The shooting, which took place early on Saturday morning, Jan. 1, has outraged the public, and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has instructed the police to be transparent and speedy in the case's resolution.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said on Tuesday that National Police Headquarters would follow the case closely to make sure that it was handled according to procedure.

"There will be no irregularities. Police headquarters will intervene if something goes awry," said Paiman.

Asked whether a scenario to save Adiguna could be played out -- whereby another person was convinced (through money or other means) to confess to pulling the trigger -- or whether Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani had met with Ponco Sutowo, Adiguna's older brother, Paiman refused to entertain either suggestion.

"There are witnesses. It is not easy to fool us. If it is true that the city police chief has met with Ponco, it proves nothing as the headquarters will make sure Adiguna is detained and the case continues to be investigated," said Paiman.

A source at the police headquarters revealed that Adiguna had been involved in three other "incidents" involving firearms last few years, although nobody had been killed.

"He was detained once in Kemang and somehow was cleared of all charges for no clear reason," the source told the Post.

National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung Sudjono said earlier that the projectile lodged in Rudy's head matched the 19 bullets found in Adiguna's room in the Hilton Hotel, Central Jakarta.

"We are still examining the blood found on the towel and tissues in Adiguna's room to see if it is Rudy's. We are still searching for the gun. However, many witnesses have identified Adiguna as the shooter," he told the Post.