Police Name Suspects Of Storing Firearms AK-47 Residents Of SSB Maluku

Director of Criminal Investigation at the Maluku Police, Kombes Pol. Andri Iskandar, when giving a press statement in Ambon, Tuesday (16/5/2023). (ANTARA)

The General Criminal and Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) of the Maluku Police has named a resident of Pasinalo Village, Taniwel District, West Seram Regency (SBB) with the initials WH as a suspect for allegedly controlling, storing, using, carrying firearms (senpi) and ammunition without rights.

"The perpetrator has now been named a suspect and detained at the Maluku Police detention center in Ambon," said Director of Criminal Investigation at the Maluku Police, Kombes Pol. Andri Iskandar, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, May 16.

WH was arrested at his home on Wednesday at around 16.30 p.m., and the 62-year-old was secured along with evidence of AK-47 organic firearms.

"The evidence that we have secured is an AK-47 organic firearm, an AK-47 magazine, 43 rounds of caliber ammunition 7.62 mm, and a gray polo backpack," said Andri.

Andri said the perpetrator was arrested after his party received information from the public, so that local police officers headed to his house.

"Arriving at the suspect's house, members of the Maluku Police Ditreskrimum spoke with the suspect and found a bag containing 43 rounds of 7.62 mm caliber ammunition. Then one member entered the kitchen and found one AK 47 organic firearm," he said.

After finding the evidence, he said, the perpetrators were then taken to the Maluku Police Headquarters for examination.

"This firearm has been controlled and used by the perpetrators for three years from 2020 to 2023. He (WH) uses it to hunt animals in the forest and its use has been 50 times, but whatever the reason is because this is a firearm related to ownership, of course, it must have a permit," he said.

The perpetrators of WH, according to him, are suspected of using Article 1 Paragraph (1) of the Emergency Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 12 of 1951, with the threat of the death penalty or life imprisonment or a maximum temporary prison sentence of 20 years.

Andri added that the gun was found, indicating that some people still keep these dangerous objects.

Therefore, Andri appealed to people who still keep their guns so that they can be handed over to the police.

"If you are worried that it can be processed by law, the village government can facilitate the community to hand over senpi to the security forces. Because that way we will not carry out legal proceedings," he said.

Regarding the unscrupulous member of the SBB DPRD who is suspected of being the owner of the gun, Andri admitted that his party was still developing.

"While we are still developing the possession of this firearm. There are several witnesses who are being questioned regarding the origin of the firearms, and the plan is that tomorrow (Wednesday) we will ask for information from the person concerned (the members of the SBB DPRD). The letter has been sent for inspection tomorrow," he said.