SP/Yoseph Kelen, Kupang – Police on Monday said they named the head of the East Nusa Tenggara district of Ngada as a suspect after he ordered the forced closure of a local airport following his failure to obtain a ticket on a fully-booked flight.

Marianus Sae instructed local public order agency (Satpol PP) officers to close the Turelelo So'a Airport in Ngada on Dec. 21, after state-run Merpati Nusantara Airlines refused to give him a seat on one of its planes.

The airport was closed for two hours that day, with airport officials saying they could do nothing to end the blockade because they were outnumbered by Satpol PP officers enforcing Marianus's orders.

"District head Marianus Sae, who has been named suspect, won't be detained because he is facing less than two and a half years in prison," East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. I Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said in Kupang – "But the legal process is ongoing... We will question Marianus Sae after the New Year."

Police earlier said 16 Satpol PP officers had been named suspects over the incident, including the chief of the local office.

Marianus's actions spurred criticism from the public and lawmakers alike. Legislators said he should be sanctioned for violating the Aviation Law for his hampering of airport operations.

National Police chief Gen. Sutarman last week said Marianus allegedly violated Article 421 of the law, which states that "anyone causing obstacles and or doing other activities in a flight operational zone, which may harm flights and aviation safety... may be sanctioned with a maximum of three years in prison and/or fined Rp 1 billion [$82,000]."