Jakarta – Budianto and Sugito, two victims of mystery shooting incidents in Poso on Thursday (04/08), were key witnesses in several terrorism case in the conflict area.

Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Arjanto Sutadi said on Friday (05/008) that 13 witnesses had been questioned in these cases.

For the time being, according to Sutadi, the police suspect that the the shootings of Budianto and Sugito, both residents of Gebangrejo, Poso Kota, was to eliminate them as witnesses of cases in Poso.

Both Budianto and Sugito have testified gave in several cases in Poso. "They (the shooters) want to get rid of all traces," said Sutadi. He added that both victims were witnesses in the Rp500 million robbery case that ended with the murder of the Poso regency government treasurer in 2004.

The victims also testified in the trial of Wagiman, or Papa Siti, who was convicted of the murder of public prosecutor Ferry Silalahi.

Sutadi added that the sniper who murdered the victims was 170cm in height, and shot the victims from close range. The sniper was the same in both murders because the bullets in the bodies of the two victims were the same. "We found two colt-38 caliber bullets in the bodies of the two victims,' said Sutadi. (Darlis Muhammad-Tempo News Room)