Ridwan Max Sijabat and Tony Hotland, Jakarta – A military police investigation found the massive arms hoard of a deceased Army officer was for his personal collection and not politically linked, with the probe zeroing in on low-ranking servicemen and civilians suspected of supplying the weapons.
However, legislators said they needed to study the report before deciding whether to accept its findings or launch their own investigation.
Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Hendardji, who accompanied Army Chief of Staff Gen. Djoko Santoso at a press briefing to announce the findings, blamed the late Brig. Gen. Koesmayadi and his son-in-law for failing to follow standard procedures on weapons.
He said Koesmayadi, then deputy to Assistant for Logistics to the Army chief who died on June 25, illegally sourced some of the guns and stored them at one of his residences in Ancol, North Jakarta. His son-in-law, a middle-ranking officer in the Presidential Guard, has been held as a suspect for removing the guns from Koesmayadi's official residence in Kuningan, South Jakarta.
A total of 43 of the 185 arms, most nonstandard issue, were sourced at his own initiative and did not follow set procedures, the report said. Koesmayadi also was blamed for keeping the weapons in his home, a violation of the law even if they were for a personal collection.
The investigation identified a ring of 11 people, including Koesmayadi and his son-in-law. "Nine others also allegedly involved in the illegal procurement of 43 guns will undergo further interrogation," said Hendardji.
Army chief Djoko Santoso said the group consisted of eight servicemen, with ranks ranging from private to brigadier general, and three civilians. He said the latter were two Italians and a South African.
They were among 129 people questioned about the stash. "The 129 people were, among others, Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu and many other high ranking officers from Army Headquarters," said Djoko.
He insisted that Koesmayadi supplied the guns and ammunitions and was keeping them at his home in a private collection, "because he had an obsession to establish an arms museum". He also pledged to ensure accountability and transparency in arms procurement in line with military regulations and a 2003 presidential instruction.
The unprecedented exposure of the arms stash fanned conspiracy theories that centered on a rift between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Ryamizard, who was passed over by him for the position of TNI chief.
Koesmayadi was reportedly close to Ryamizard when the latter was commanding the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) and the Army between 2000 and 2005.
The President, with full support of the House, has ordered a thorough investigation into the case.
Effendi Choirie, a member of the House's Commission I on defense, information and foreign affairs, said his commission was still waiting the ivestigation's result and would assess it before making decision on whether to accept it or not.
"If the military police's investigation is determined to be satisfactory, the House will not take further action. But if it's dissatisfactory and the military police was not transparent in carrying out the investigation, the House will necessarily form a special committee to conduct its own inquiry in to the case."
Djoko Susilo, an outspoken legislator of the National Mandate Party (PAN), urged the military to prosecute all the suspects.
Separately, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono declined Wednesday to elaborate on the findings except to say they should be respected. He also would not comment on speculation the probe focused on low-ranking personnel to shield high-ranking officers.