TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
TNI claims extortion behind fatal shooting of three Lampung Police officers
The incident erupted when a joint team of 17 officers from the Negara Batin Police and Way Kanan Police raided an illicit gambling operation at 4:50 p.m. on Monday.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Day of mourning: Family and friends pray next to the coffin of First Brig. M. Ghalib Surya Ganta on March 18 at his family's home in Bandar Lampung. Ghalib is one of three officers killed during a raid at a cockfighting arena in Way Kanan regency in Lampung. (Antara/Ardiansyah)
T
he Indonesian Military (TNI) has stated that the alleged fatal shooting of three police officers by two soldiers during a raid on an illegal cockfighting arena in Negara Batin district, Way Kanan regency, Lampung, was triggered by an alleged extortion involving one of the officers.
The incident erupted when a joint team of 17 officers from the Negara Batin Police and Way Kanan Police raided the illicit gambling arena at 4:50 p.m. on Monday.
Upon arriving at the arena, the officers fired a warning shot to disperse the crowd watching the cockfight, but unidentified individuals returned fire.
Negara Batin Police chief Adj. Comr. Lusiyanto, community development unit member Chief Brig. Petrus Apriyanto and Way Kanan Police criminal investigation unit officer First Brig. M. Ghalib Surya Ganta were fatally shot in the head and chest during the incident.
Two soldiers, identified as Chief Warrant Officer Lubis and Chief Cpl. Basar from the Negara Batin military post, turned themselves in later that day and were swiftly taken into custody by the Lampung Military Police.
Sriwijaya Military Command (Kodam) spokesperson Col. Eko Syah Putra revealed that Lubis, who commanded the Negara Batin Military Post, told investigators he had been running the illegal cockfighting operation since last year.
"He allegedly regularly paid bribes to Negara Batin Police Chief Lusiyanto to prevent police interference with the operation. However, shortly before the shooting, the two allegedly had a dispute over the amount of the bribe," he said on Wednesday, as quoted by Kompas.
