JAKARTA: Medan City Police have arrested four suspects in the robbery and arson of the house of judge Khamazaro Waruwu who summoned North Sumatra Governor Bobby Nasution in a corruption case.
The suspects, identified as Fahrul Azis, Holoan Hamonangan Simamora, Hariman Sitanggang and Medy Mehamat Amosta Barus, were arrested on Nov 14 with complete evidence, Medan City Police chief Sr. Comr. Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak said on Friday (Nov 21).
Calvijn said the results of 49 witness questionings and facts on the field revealed that the arson was not related to a corruption case currently being presided over by Khamazaro.
The arson case instead was motivated by revenge.
“The motive is being offended and taking revenge against the victim,” the police chief told a press conference at the Medan City Police headquarters.
He said Fahrul was the main culprit in the arson after stealing jewellery worth hundreds of millions of rupiah after being offended.
Calvijn, however, did not reveal for what reason Fahrul felt offended by the judge. He only said Fahrul had been employed as Khamazaro as a driver three times. It was revealed that Fahrul initially planned to burn Khamazaro’s house on Oct 30 but only realised his plan on Nov 4, started by buying gasoline in Delitua area after getting information that Khamazaro’s house was empty.
After buying gasoline, Fahrul headed to the Medan District Court to ensure that the judge was there.
After confirming Khamazaro’s presence at the court, Fahrul went to the victim’s home at Taman Harapan Indah housing complex in Tanjung Sari subdistrict, Medan Selayang district. Fahrul got inside the house because he knew that Khamazaro always placed his house key at the shoe rack.
After stealing the valuables, Fahrul burned the victim’s wardrobe, dressing table and bed before leaving the location.
Fahrul then asked for assistance from Holoan, who was close to Khamazaro, to report the situation after the fire at Khamazaro’s house. Holoan also assisted Fahrul to sell the jewelry, together with Hariman.
The jewellery was sold in batches to Medy for a total value of Rp 400 million (US$23,992). Fahrul told the press conference that he committed the crimes because he was offended by Khamazaro. When asked further, he said that he was forced to do it because of economic pressure.
The fire at Khamozaro’s house took place after he asked prosecutors from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to summon Bobby, also the son-in-law of former president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, and North Sumatra Provincial Secretary Effendy Pohan as witnesses in a case of alleged corruption at road construction projects worth some Rp 165 billion (US$9.88 million).
The request was made on Sept 24, after it was revealed during the trial that the budget for the road construction projects was shifted from several provincial agencies to the Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency through gubernatorial regulations.
“We want to ask what the legal basis for the North Sumatra gubernatorial regulation on budget shift was, which was done six times,” Khamozaro said. However, KPK prosecutors have yet to fulfill the presiding judge’s request. -The Jakarta Post/ANN
