Of the total 34 persons that we arrested, 10 of them will now face further legal actionTimika, Papua (ANTARA) - The police has released the names of 10 suspects who were allegedly involved in vandalism and looting and for owning sharp weapons at a peace rally of Papuans in Timika Wednesday, August 21, 2019.
The police named the 10 suspects after having earlier detained 34 persons following the violence that occurred at the otherwise peaceful rally, Chief of the Police Investigation Unit of Mimika Police Adjunct Commissioner I Gusti Agung Ananta Pratama said here Friday.
The police has conducted investigations at crime scenes in four different locations in Timika Thursday, August 22 following the incidents at the rally.
"With the help of the Papua Police investigators, we conducted crime scene investigations and sought more evidence of the riots in Timika that broke out after the anti-racism protest last Wednesday. Of the total 34 persons that we arrested, 10 of them will now face further legal action," Pratama said.
Nine of the suspects were allegedly involved in the vandalism at the Grand Mozza Hotel, and Mimika BNN office. They also set fire to an excavator and looted kiosks belonging to residents on Cendrawasih Street.
The police arrested one suspect for carrying a sharp weapon during the riot while they released 23 others.
Mimika Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Agung Marlianto said earlier that the police had arrested 34 people following Wednesday’s protest.
Thirteen of them were arrested for carrying sharp weapons, forcing workshop owners to part with their used tires, and carrying Papua separatist attributes.
The unrest in Timika is estimated to have caused Rp1 billion in damages.
Related news: 200 Brimob personnel reach Timika to ensure conducive atmosphere
Translator: Evarianus Supar, Sri Haryati
Editor: Suharto
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