Father and son nabbed for possessing explosives

Depok City Police revealed on Wednesday that officers had apprehended a father and son, widely known as firecracker makers, for possessing explosives and an illegal firearm.

According to Depok City Police chief Sr. Comr. Mulyadi, the suspects, identified as Na, 56, and S, 30, were apprehended last week at their home, which was also used to store firecrackers, in Tanjur Halang, Bogor regency, West Java. The suspects sold their fireworks in Jakarta, Bogor and Depok, he said.

Mulyadi said the father and son had violated Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on the possession of firearms, explosives and ammunitions. The law prohibits parties who do not have sufficient rights from possessing explosives. It carries a maximum penalty of the death sentence, life or 20 years in prison.

Detectives confiscated thousands of firecrackers of various types, explosive materials consisting of one kilogram of sulfur, 30 grams of potassium and 20 grams of bromine as well as a firecracker making set from the father and son, said the police chief.

“A result of laboratory test showed that the materials were indeed explosives. Therefore, we have charged them (Na and S) for violating the Emergency Law,” he said, adding the explosive materials could have been turned into a bomb given the correct measurements.

Mulyadi said that the arrest of the father and son was a part of the Sendak Jaya operation, which had been carried out since July 19.

During the operation, the Depok City Police received two airsoft guns, handed over by residents in Cimanggis district, and two illegal firearms from residents in Beji district.

Meanwhile, a woman from Sawangan also handed in a box filled with ammunition and a magazine, which was owned by her late husband who had retired from the military.

Mulyadi added that the Sendak Jaya operation was being conducted to reduce the number of armed robberies. “We want to limit the number of crimes involving explosives and firearms,” he said. (riz)