Police: Assassin Group Financially Supported by Elites

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo, said that the funder of the group responsible for the riot on May 22 allegedly came from elites. Six members of the group were reportedly ordered to shoot dead four national figures and head of private survey institutions.

"The funder gave money to the intellectual actor who then delivered it to I (Iwan, also known as HK) who acted as the coordinator," said Dedi in Coordinating Politics, Legal, and Security Ministry building, Central Jakarta on Tuesday, May 28, 2019.

The assassin group was discovered following case developments by the investigation team specifically formed by Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian to investigate the May 22 riot.

HK as the group leader supervise five members identified as IR, TJ, AZ, AD, and AF. They had different roles starting from a seller of illegal weapons until martyr seeker to be assigned as an executor.

Police have arrested the six and confiscated IDR 286 million intended to purchase guns and as operational funds.

Dedi further explained that the first target of the group was heads of the private pollster. "They are promised to get honorarium and aids for their family," he said.

The police suspected that the group motivated by economic factors. Based on HK's testimony, Dedi added, the suspects did not have proper shooting skill as most of them were an regular employee.

ANDITA RAHMA