Ambon Police Investigate Ownership Of AK-47 Firearms Belonging To SBB Regency Residents

Dirreskrimum Polda Maluku Kombes Pol. Andri Iskandar. (ANTARA)

The General Criminal Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) of the Maluku Regional Police (Polda) investigated a resident of Pasinalo Village, West Taniwel District, West Seram Regency (SBB), with the initials MW, who is suspected of storing AK-47 firearms (senpi).

"Yes, it is true that we have secured the resident of Taniwel SBB who holds the AK-47 rifle," said the Director of Criminal Investigation at the Maluku Police, Kombes Pol. Andri Iskandar, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 15.

The 62-year-old man was arrested by the police for storing an AK-47 firearm. MW and is now being held at the Maluku Police Detention Center in Ambon.

Andri revealed that MW was arrested on Wednesday afternoon in Pasinalo Village, West Taniwel District because MW is known to have a gun belonging to a retired National Police officer who is now a member of the Regional People's Representative Council (DPRD) of SBB Regency with the initials EM.

However, when this was confirmed, Andri could not confirm it, and the investigation was still ongoing.

"We are currently investigating the ownership. Please take time," said Andri.

According to him, the issue of the possession of illegal firearms in Indonesia has been regulated in the law, namely, someone who is proven to own an illegal firearm, is threatened with being entangled in Article 1 paragraph (1) of the Emergency Law Number 12 of 1951 regarding possession of firearms by Civilians which reads.

"Whoever, who without the right to enter Indonesia, makes, receives, tries to obtain, submit or tries to hand over, control, carry, has supplies to him or has in his property, keeps, transports, hides, uses or removes from Indonesia any firearm, munitions or something explosives, shall be punished with the death penalty or life imprisonment or a year in prison," he said.