Bambang Muryanto, Bantul, Yogyakarta – Second Sgt. Ucok Tigor Simbolon, one of the 12 defendants in the alleged killings of four detainees at Cebongan Penitentiary in Yogyakarta, has admitted to shoot the detainees when he was presented on Tuesday as a witness in the trial at the II-11 Yogyakarta Military Court.
"I did double tap shots," Ucok told the court, which also tried defendants First Sgt. Tri Juwanto, First Sgt. Anjar Rahmanto, First Sgt. Mathius Roberto P Banani, First Sgt. Suprapto and First Sgt. Sertu Herman Siswoyo.
The five defendants entered the penitentiary when Ucok, one of the three main suspects in the case, killed the four detainees on March 23. Five of them were on guard at the porter room when Ucok did the shootings.
Also presented as witnesses were Second. Sgt. Sugeng Sumaryanto and First Corporal Kodik, the other two main suspects in the case.
There are a total of 12 defendants in the case, who are all members of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) Group 2 Kandang Menjangan in Kartosuro, Central Java.
Nine of the accused have been charged with masterminding premeditated murder and face the death penalty if found guilty. The other three have been charged with providing assistance and face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
On Tuesday, presiding judge Lt. Col. Faridah Faisal tried to prove if the murders were premeditated or not.
Ucok said he asked the five aforementioned defendants to go to Yogyakarta with him, Sugeng and Kodik to look for Marcel, a suspect in the attack of Kopassus member First Sgt. Sriyono.
He also admitted that upon entering the penitentiary's Blok A5 cell he shouted Deki's name before he finally shot Hendrik Angel Sahetapi (Deki), Yohanes Juan Manbait (Juan) and Adrianus Candra Galaja (Dedi). He insisted of committing the shooting as self defense because someone had attacked him with a crutch.
"But none of the witnesses we examined said they heard a crutch being thrown," the presiding judge said.
Ucok said that he returned to the cell and shot Gameliel Yermianto Rohi Riwu (Adi) to make sure that the three detainees were all dead and later killed Adi because he made a suspicious movement. He used Sugeng's rifle as his own gun was stuck.
Ucok also insisted that he went to the prison to look for Marcel, not to kill Deki. In the previous hearing, Ucok repeatedly said that he went to the prison to ask Deki about Marcel's whereabouts. "If the wardens were willing to call Deki for us then the shootings would never have happened," Ucok said.
With regard to as why they put on masks, Ucok said that they were having exercise on Mt. Lawu which had cold weather, that is why they needed to put on masks.
Separately, Sugeng said he was behind Ucok when entering the prison but denied that he pointed his gun through the door's peep hole. "I have said I am responsible and ready to take the risk," Sugeng said.
The trial was adjourned for July 22 to hear from more witnesses. The defendants' lawyer team leader Lt. Col. Rokhmat said he would present three to four additional witnesses, including First Sgt. Sriyono.