TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - Second Sgt. Ucok Tigor Simbolon, the Special Forces Command (Kopassus) member accused of attacking the Cebongan Prison and killing four of its prisoners, is considered as having misused his firearms. The AK 47 that he "should keep with at all time" must only be used during training at the Mount Lawu training compound.
"The weapon is only used during trainings," said Lt. Col. Burhan Syamsudin, Ucok's Training Commander, when testifying for the defendant in Yogyakarta Military Court on Thursday, July.
Burhan said that the firearms and ammunition are "attached" to training personnel until the end of every training routine. Because there is no armory in the training compound, all weapons are collected after trainings end.
"Because [the weapons] are attached [to the soldiers], they must be carried at all time," said Burhan.
"If they go out, say to Semarang, do they also carry their weapons?" prosecutor Lt. Col. Sus Budiharto asked.
"The weapons remain carried. I give them the responsibility to secure the weapons," Burhan answered.
"But the weapons can only be used for trainings in the compound. They must not be used for other purposes. "
Ucok had testified that he used his weapon to shoot the four prisoners in the Cebongan prison in the early morning of March 23.
PITO AGUSTIN RUDIANA | MUH SYAIFULLAH
