Police Arrest Makassar Grand Mosque Pulpit Burner, Heartbroken Perpetrators Are Prohibited From Sleeping In Mosques

The perpetrators of burning the pulpit of the Makassar Grand Mosque / PHOTO VIA ANTARA

MAKASSAR - Team Jatanras Polrestabes Makassar, South Sulawesi managed to arrest the man with the initials KB (27) who set fire to the pulpit of the Makassar Grand Mosque.

"The team gave chase and at 14.00 WITA, we received information that the perpetrator was in the Tinumbu area. The team moved there and managed to arrest him," said Makassar Police Chief, Kombes Witnu Urip Laksana, quoted by Antara, Saturday, September 25.

The arrest of the perpetrator was based on reports and information received, as well as the results of the crime scene (TKP) as well as examining witnesses. From the initial witness examination and the CCTV footage of the mosque, the perpetrators were able to identify them.

In addition, the results of the Forensic Laboratory Team's TKP investigation found that there were remnants of the burning suspected to be bottles filled with liquid kerosene.

"We have determined him as a suspect. We are imposing Article 187 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years in prison, namely the act of intentionally burning," said Witnu.

As for the motive, the perpetrator is said to be offended by the mosque management every time he comes to rest or sleep at the mosque, it is always prohibited by the management and security of the local mosque.

From the CCTV footage, the perpetrator seems to be in a hurry to finish his actions immediately. But when the fire was already smoldering, the perpetrator then went down, then the mosque administrator went up to the second floor and found the pulpit already burned at the back.

Judging from the motives of the perpetrators, the target of this burning was only this pulpit. On the night of the incident, it was raining heavily and the roof of the mosque was leaking.

"This is the initial motive that we got from the perpetrators. Then we developed the behavior of the perpetrators' activities. It is suspected that they have been consuming dangerous substances for a long time as regulated in the Narcotics Law," he said.

"We will also develop this regarding the relationship between the perpetrator and the dealer," added the Police Chief.

While the evidence that was secured such as prayer mats that had been burned. Because, the prayer mat was used by the perpetrators to set fire to it quickly. Pieces of the pulpit were burned, and the holy book was secured because it was close to the pulpit.

When asked about the motive for burning the pulpit of the mosque, the KB suspect said that he was often reprimanded by the management and security of the mosque because he was hurt. He also admitted that he had burned wood near the mosque. At around 21.00 WITA, when he wanted to sleep in the mosque to rest, it was forbidden to secure the mosque.

"I'm often reprimanded when I'm sleeping downstairs (first floor). ran out of the mosque. I'm sorry," he said.