Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Jakarta – Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan has demanded penalties for eight members of the presidential security detail who privately bought firearms from the US.
"Sanctions should be imposed in accordance with the applicable law or regulation of the Indonesian Military (TNI) on that matter," Luhut said on Monday.
While the investigation into the alleged gun-smuggling involving a US soldier is ongoing, he asserted that the form of sanction for the presidential guards in question was for TNI Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo to decide.
He said the illegal procurement case may expose similar cases that might have happened under the government's nose but had remained undetected.
The minister's comments contrast with those of a TNI official, who had claimed that no law had been found broken based on findings by TNI's internal affairs team, which was why the presidential guards would not be punished. (bbn)