Inp.polri.go.id – North Sulawesi. North Sulawesi Regional Police arrest the wanted man of gun smuggling from Philippines to Indonesia. The suspect, initialed RM, was a fugitive who has been on the run since 2022. The disclosure of this case was handled by North Minahasa Sub-regional Police and North Sulawesi Regional Police according to the police report number 380 on May 15, 2022. Four suspects were arrested back in 2022, while RM managed to get away. “RM is an old suspect that was on the run, which bring us the total of the suspect to five. The previous four suspects have been sentenced and some of them even have been freed. Only this man left that has not been sentenced by the law,” said North Sulawesi Regional Police PR Chief, Senior Superintendent Michael Irwan Thamsil on Thursday (3/7/2024). According to the police, RM is from Sangihe Island Regency. He was arrested in Davao, Philippines, by joint forces of North Sulawesi Regional Police, North Minahasa Sub-regional Police, and NCB Interpol Indonesia. “RM was picked up by the police through Red Notice we have submitted to Indonesian National Police (INP) International Relationship Division. Thanks to that, our arrest on RM goes smoothly,” report the police. Meanwhile, the North Sulawesi Regional Police General Criminal Investigation Director, Senior Superintendent Gani Siahaan says that the case investigation began since 2022 and have initially arrested the first-four suspect. “RM is the man who brought the gun by crossing the waters of General Santos, Philippines to Sangihe Island Regency, North Sulawesi,” said Gani. Gani further explained that RM status in Philippines is an illegal entry, which means he entered the state without legal permit. This status caused him to get sanctioned by Philippines Immigration. “Then there was a notice of RM who has been listed to the Red Notice after we report the case to the INP International Relationship Division. After undergoing his sentence in Philippines, our joint forces immediately went to Manila and Davao to pick up RM to return to Indonesia to be trialed for smuggling guns,” Gani explained. In his criminal actions, RM got the order for gun purchase from RB. RB is the previous suspect who have been arrested by police in Manokwari. RB ordered weapons to RM for IDR 70 million which was sent through banker in Papua. “Of the money, IDR 20 Million was sent to his wife, and IDR 50 Million was brought by RM to purchase a gun type UZI from Philippines. From our arrest, we have secured eight weapons, and after our examination, the guns are homemade guns from Mindanao, Philippines,” revealed Gani. RM is charged with Article 1 paragraph (1) of the Emergency Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 12 of 1951 in conjunction with Article 55 (1) 1e of the Criminal Code. “He could be sentenced with capital punishment or life imprisonment or maximum imprisonment of 20 years,” conclude Gani. (ad/sy/pr/nm)