Indonesian Air Force to investigate origin of liquor consumed by Russian technicians

Sultan Hasanuddin airbase in Makassar, South Sulawesi, will investigate the origin of liquor found at the boarding house where Russian fighter jet technicians live.

Airbase commander Commodore Agus Supriatna said that the investigation would be conducted to uncover as to how the technicians got the supplies of liquor, which was prohibited at the airbase compound.

Two Russian technicians were rushed to the hospital Tuesday following the death of three other Russians, Sukhoi warranty team members Alexander Poltorak Meksandre, Sergei Voronin and Koronov Viktor Sapanov, on Monday.

The two are now recovering, while remains of the three foreigners will be flown back to Russia on Friday.

Agus denied reports that the airbase provided the liquor for the technicians. “We have strict regulation on that and it has been informed to the leader of the team before they lived at the boarding house,” Agus said on Wednesday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Agus explained that as soon as the incident happened his subordinates directly cooperated with the leader of team. “They were shocked as they did not think it would happen. We thought they (the technicians) stealthily did it. This is what we will investigate,” he said.

The technicians could possibly buy the liquor directly and stealthily consumed it, or possibly they got it through the help of certain airbase persons, Agus said. “If it is proven that airbase personnel helped the liquor procurement, I will take stern action against them,” he said.