Police urged to drop boy’s suspect status

Bandung Police were urged Monday to drop the suspect status given to an 11-year-old boy held responsible for a shooting incident at West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan’s house on Friday.

West Java Child Protection Institute program manager Dianawati went to Bandung Police headquarters to urge the release of the boy, identified by the initials RZ, who was reportedly in a state of severe stress.

Dianawati said the police decision to declare the boy a suspect on Saturday was premature given the lack of balanced information obtained from the boys, who were unaware of precise details of the incident.

“They were playing in a room equipped with a weapon and were not under adult supervision. House employees and the governor’s wife, Netty Prasetiyani, also were unaware of the precise details of the incident,” Dianawati said in Bandung on Monday.

RZ allegedly shot his friend Raihan Ahmad when playing with an air rifle before breaking the fast at the governor’s official residence. None of the governor’s family members were home at the time.

The boys were friends of the governor’s third son, who had invited three of his elementary school friends to play at the house while waiting to break the fast.

The boys were left unattended to in the bedroom of Heryawan’s eldest son, where the governor kept the 4.5-milimeter Sharp Tiger air rifle.

Police said Raihan was shot at around 3:30 p.m. and had been taken to the Borromeus Hospital for treatment.

Based on police reports, the boys were playing with the loaded air rifle when it suddenly went off. The air pellet had pierced the back of Raihan’s head.

After undergoing minor surgery on Friday night, Raihan was allowed to return home on Monday.

Dianawati urged police not to name the boy a suspect arbitrarily because he and the victim had been severely traumatized by the incident and could suffer from stress as a result.

“The children were unaware that the rifle was loaded. If police pursue this case they should also be aware they are deciding the future of children, which will have far-reaching consequences,” she said.

Dianawati said she would ask the children involved for clear statements.

A source told The Jakarta Post that the police’s chronological report was different to what really happened.

The source, who opted to remain anonymous, said the children were initially invited to take part in target practice (using the rifle) behind the house, which was also observed by the governor’s wife and house employees.

Later, the governor’s wife asked the children to watch a DVD in her eldest son’s room as the third son was going to a lesson, he said.

Inside the room the three boys found the rifle in a cocked position lying on the bed and were afraid it would go off.

“Because they were afraid the rifle would go off, they tried to release the cock but failed. The pellet ricocheted off the ceiling and hit Raihan,” the source said.

Police were still taking statements from other witnesses, but have yet to comment on RZ’s status.

Dianawati urged police to focus instead on the psychological state of the victims, including the suspect.

“Considering these children’s future, this case should be dropped, especially since the victim’s parents have accepted that it was an accident,” she said.

Governor Heryawan declined to comment, but one of his staffers said he had surrendered the case completely to police.