From a Complaint of Not Being Able to Sleep to a Criminal Case, the Jawab Shooter in Belu NTT is Threatened with 1.5 Years in Prison

ATAMBUA - Belu Police investigators stated that two perpetrators of shooting the Serak Jawa (Tyto alba) owl were threatened with a one-year-six-month prison sentence for their actions against protected animals.

Belu Police Chief AKBP I Gede Eka Putra Astawa said there were two suspects in the case, each with the initials OYM (41) and FS (35), residents of RT 004/RW 002 Nela Village, Naekasa Village, West Tasifeto District, Belu Regency, East Nusa Tenggara.

"Both suspected perpetrators have been questioned, but no arrests have been made," said Gede Eka when contacted from Atambua, Antara, Wednesday, January 21.

He explained that the two suspects were charged with Article 337 paragraph (2) of the Criminal Code (KUHP) as regulated in Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.

The disclosure of the case began with a video that went viral on social media, which showed a Javanese Serak owl in a live condition held on both wings, then shot with a pneumatic gun on the head.

According to the Police Chief, in the video a woman who recorded the incident appeared to be disturbed by the sound of owls that often chirp at night.

"Due to the sound of the birds, for two nights the woman and her family claimed they could not sleep because they felt disturbed," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of Public Relations of the NTT Regional Police, Kombes Henry Novika Chandra, emphasized that the legal process for the case would continue in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations.

Law enforcement is carried out by prioritizing the principles of caution, justice, and legal protection for all parties.

"We will handle each problem in a balanced manner. Law enforcement is carried out while still considering humanitarian aspects, education, and environmental protection," said Henry.