Permata Hajj Entrepreneur Ex-Chairman Of South Sulawesi Family Harmony Killed, Police Check Head Of Customs And Excise

PEKANBARU - Polda Riau examined the Head of the Office of Customs and Excise Supervision and Service (KPPBC) Tembilahan, Indragiri Hilir, Riau, Ari Wibawa Yusuf. He was examined in the case of the death of Haji Jumhan alias Haji Permata.

Riau Police Reskrimum Director Kombes Teddy Ristiawan said the investigation was carried out to investigate the case of the death of Haji Permata in an operation to catch an illegal cigarette smuggler in Indragiri Hilir Regency waters on January 15, 2021. Haji Permata is a businessman who is also the former Chairman of the South Sulawesi Family Harmony (Sulsel).

Apart from examining Ari Wibawa, his party has also sent summons to six BC Tembilahan officers.

"The six Customs and Excise officers, who took part in the arrest operation some time ago. The six of them were not present, according to their statements they are currently in Jakarta. We will call them again later," he said as quoted by Antara, Friday, January 22.

The police have also asked 17 witnesses, including from the family of the Haji Permata businessman. In addition, there were also four witnesses who came from the Sungai Belah community, Inhil who knew about the incident and were also investigated.

This case was reported by the family of Haji Permata because he considered that there were irregularities in the entrepreneur's death.

Kombes Teddy said that from the autopsy it was found that Haji Permata died from a gunshot wound.

"From the autopsy we obtained five projectiles from the body of Haji Permata. Later we will test the laboratory to see which projectiles are identical to which weapons," he said.

The laboratory test is also expected to provide information on the size of the firing distance carried out by officers. Whether the shooting was carried out at close range or at a long distance.

Kombes Teddy said the First Haji was one of the four people who died during the operation carried out by Customs and Excise.

Another victim who died was named Bahar, the captain of the ship. Bahar died from gunfire to the head. Then Abdurahman who was also shot in the sole of his leg, and finally Irwan who was shot in the upper left arm.

Previously, Director of International and Interagency Customs, Syarif Hidayat, in an official statement on January 16, 2021, said that the death of Haji Permata occurred when the Customs Marine Patrol Officer for the Special Region of Riau Islands together with Tembilahan Customs, Riau Province.

At that time, officers were chasing four fast boats (high speed craft / HSC) with an unnamed 6 x 250 PK engine, which were suspected of being illegal cigarette smugglers in the waters of Sungai Buluh, Riau.

From these arrests, officers managed to secure an unmanned ship containing more than 7.2 million sticks of illegal cigarettes, with a potential state loss of Rp. 7.6 billion.

A suspected smuggler, Haji Permata, was shot dead by BC officers during the crackdown operation.

The death of Haji Permata, continued Syarif, was due to resistance against officers when the smuggling perpetrators were about to be secured.

"The officers ordered the ship to stop but were not obeyed and even attempted to crash into the patrol boat of the officers," said Syarif.

According to him, when the perpetrator using a fast boat tried to resist, the BC again gave a warning via siren and verbal orders via loudspeaker.

However, two other fast boats that had previously fled returned with dozens of people using beheadings and pelted the BC officer ship with Molotov cocktails, firecrackers, and fireworks.

"So it is clear that there is an intention to reclaim the fast boats and smuggled cigarettes that are already controlled by Customs. Furthermore, in a state of urgency, the officers defend themselves and take measured decisive action against the perpetrators who attack the Customs officers," said Syarif.