T

he military police have arrested a soldier, First Sgt. Yoyok Hadi, after he allegedly shot dead a motorcycle taxi (ojek) driver, Marsim '€œJapra'€ Sarmani in Bogor regency, West Java, on Tuesday.

According to Army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Muhammad Sabrar Fadhilah, before the shooting, Hadi quarreled with Japra in front of several ojek drivers over his car, which had reportedly been grazed by the victim with his motorcycle. Hadi demanded Japra apologize but the driver refused.

Fadhillah further explained that, at the same time, Japra'€™s friends joined in the quarrel, to defend Japra.

'€œBased on the investigation file, Hadi said he had fired a warning shot but he still felt threatened because Japra and his friends had intimidated him [Hadi] during the quarrel. Thus, he shot Japra. Through his forehead,'€ Fadhillah said on Monday, adding that Japra died instantly.

Fadhillah went on to say that following this, Hadi, a member of the Army'€™s Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), made his escape from the other ojek drivers to Jagorawi toll road, where the police eventually arrested him.

Separately, Kostrad'€™s Intelligence Battalion Commander Infantry Maj. Dani Eka confirmed Fadhillah'€™s statement, and added that the police arrested Hadi when he canceled his plan to turn himself in to the Cibinong Military Police after he saw a crowd of upset civilians blocking his way.

Dani said that the police then handed over Hadi to the Cibinong Military Police where he continues to be held under arrest.

The commander explained that Hadi carried a gun because he was assigned to monitor a certain case involving two female informants, who were riding in the car. Thus, the military had given him permission to take a gun with him for three days. The car belonged to one of the informants, he said.

Dani explained that Hadi was often on assignments, handling '€œsensitive'€ cases like drug abuse and terrorism.

Dani said both he and other military representatives had met with Japra'€™s family to apologize and to express their sympathy. They also donated money and food.

The Army has also borne the cost of the funeral.

Dani said that the visit to the mourning family was a direct order from Kostrad commander Lt. Gen. Edy Rahmayadi, who was '€œdisappointed and angry'€ about the incident.

Kostrad has also met with Tubagus Enungsutisna, the head of the Cibinong chapter of mass organization Banten Family Development Group (BPPKB), where Japra had been previously signed up as a member.

BPPKB has been known to get involved in clashes with other mass organizations, such as the Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR).

Tubagus said that the incident was an '€œunfortunate event'€ and that it was one that should not be unnecessarily prolonged.

His organization had made sure there would be no revenge taken against the military.

Shortly after the shooting, he said, representatives from the organization met with Dani and have also been in communication with the victim'€™s family. (agn)