Police Arrest Thief Sound System Church In Maluku

Dirreskrimum Polda Maluku Kombes Andri Iskandar when giving a press statement, Ambon. (ANTARA/Winda Herman)

AMBON - The police arrested a perpetrator of theft of the church sound system who often carried out his actions in a number of churches in Maluku.

The perpetrator named GN alias Gusye committed the theft at the Ambon City Church to Kairatu, West Seram Regency (SBB).

"We secured the person concerned in the Ambon city area on Thursday (1/6/2023). The results of the development were only that the person concerned admitted that he had committed theft in five other churches," said Director of Criminal Investigation at the Maluku Police, Kombes Andri Iskandar in Ambon, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, June 6.

Gusye last took action at the Getsemani church, the Congregation of Bukit Zaitun, Gunung Nona, Ambon City, on April 29 in the morning.

Previously, he also stole at the Ecarha church, Waai Country, Salahutu District, Central Maluku Regency. He took away the europower pmx2000 mixer brand.

Not only that, Gusye was also included in Petra's church, Ahuru, Ambon City. He also stole a Yamaha mg 16 xu mixer unit.

Gusye also took action at Sion Latuhalat church, Ambon City and stole the soundstandard ca20 power brand and the skm9000 centheiser. He also entered the BK Gloria SKIP Ambon City and stole the behringer x 32 compact mixer brand.

The Bethlehem Church in Kairatu, SBB Regency, was also targeted by this sole perpetrator. He took away 1 unit of mixer kp 60, power bell m-550 and master toa amplifier z 2060.

According to the perpetrator's confession, Andri said, his party then checked at the SPKT. As a result, only two churches made police reports, namely the Getsemani and Petra Ahuru churches.

"So the other 4 churches have not made official reports regarding the loss. We have confirmed it and it is true that the churches recognized by the perpetrators have lost," explained Andri.

Gusye was caught based on an investigation into the last theft case at the Getsemani Gunung Nona church. The case was reported by DL, a Religious with Police Report Number: LP/B/111/IV/2023/SPKT/POLDA MALUKU, dated April 30, 2023.

After the perpetrator was arrested, then the perpetrator admitted that he had stolen from five other churches.

The evidence that has been secured is in the form of two original invoice sheets for purchasing sound systems), one financial service report book for 2021 GPM, the Getsemani Church of the Jemlah Bukit Zaitun, one unit of black SUzuki shogun sp motorcycle police number DE 4210 AO, one unit of Oppo A11 K cellphone, one unit of allen & heath brand mixer type gl 2400 gray and black.

"He sold the stolen goods through an online sales application on Facebook (Maluku Trade Group). This action was carried out only to meet his daily needs," explained Andri.

The perpetrator has been named a suspect and detained at the Maluku Police detention center. He was charged with Article 362 of the Criminal Code and Article 363 paragraph 1 to -3 of the Criminal Code with a maximum sentence of 7 years in prison.