Jakarta Globe, Ezra Sihite & Farouk Arnaz, December 24, 2013
A Merpati Nusantara Airlines plane sits at an airport in Luwuk, Central Sulawesi. (JG Photo/Erwida Maulia) |
Police on
Tuesday said 15 public order agency (Satpol PP) officers in Ngada district,
East Nusa Tenggara, have been named suspects in an investigation after carrying
out an order from the district head to forcefully close a local airport on
Saturday.
Turelelo
Soa Airport was temporarily shut on Saturday morning after Marianus Sae, the
district head, ordered for it to be closed after he was denied a ticket on an
fully-booked Merpati Nusantara flight. Airport officials said they could do
nothing to end the blockade because they were outnumbered by Satpol PP officers
enforcing Marianus’s wishes.
“Fifteen
[Satpol PP officers] have been named suspects for violating the law and
trespassing on the runway,” East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. I Ketut
Untung Yoga Ana told Indonesian news portal vivanews.com.
He said it
would need some time, though, before Marianus himself could be charged in the
case.
“Our law
specifies that questioning of district heads requires permission, a
recommendation from the governor,” Untung said.
He added
that Ngada Police were currently dealing with the case.
“[They] are
investigating others first — those whose questioning doesn’t require a letter,”
Untung said. “They need time. They’re working in stages.”
Separately
in Jakarta, National Police chief Gen. Sutarman said Marianus allegedly
violated Indonesia’s Aviation Law.
“Shutting
an airport violates Article 421 of the 2009 Law on Aviation,” he said.
“Blockading an airport is punishable by three years in prison and Rp 1 billion
[$82,000] in fines.”
Sutarman
added that police decided to commence the investigation into the case even
though no one had filed a report against Marianus.
He added
that anyone involved in the closure might face legal charges.
“There are
three [alleged] perpetrators: those who did it, those who helped and those who
ordered it,” Sutarman said. “The punishment will be the same. We will question
[all of them].”
Aside from
the Satpol PP officers, police said they have questioned officials from Merpati
and airport operator Angkasa Pura, as well as airport security personnel, over
Saturday’s incident.
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