25 suspected criminals netted in street operations

JAKARTA (JP): The police have netted at least 25 suspected criminals, including Armed Forces (ABRI) members, in a series of operations held over the past week here.

The suspects had five guns, 15 sharp weapons and 30 vehicles in their possession.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang briefed the media yesterday, saying the officers involved in the operation, code named Kilat Jaya (Greater Jakarta Lightening), also confiscated a few grams of putaw (low-grade heroin), 10 fake vehicle number plates and 10 Ecstasy pills.

The five guns, he said, were seized from the ABRI members, who did not have permits to carry the weapons.

"We have investigated them and turned them over to the Jakarta military police for further investigation," Aritonang said.

Street operations against criminals are routine activities of the Jakarta Police. Such operations are usually carried out from midnight to dawn.

The operations, however, have been intensified in recent weeks following the increasing number of armed robberies in Greater Jakarta.

In their latest operation yesterday morning, one police team netted three people driving a Panther van on Jl. Raya Lenteng Agung in South Jakarta. Police seized an FN gun from the three men, Aritonang said.

During interrogation, the three identified themselves as ABRI members Jeffry, 24, Hendi, 22 and Kodrat, 41.

"All of them were transferred immediately to the Jakarta military police," Aritonang said.

When contacted by The Jakarta Post last night, deputy commander of the city military police Lt. Col. Darmadi confirmed the transfer.

"It's for sure that they are members of Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad).

"Two of them are first sergeants and the other a private. They are under interrogation now and if proven guilty they will be court-martialled for undisciplined acts," Darmadi said.

When asked about their motive, Darmadi simply said: "They just wanted to show off."

Darmadi also said the three could be sentenced to a maximum 14 days imprisonment for carrying a gun without a permit.

During the crackdown on Monday, police arrested five men in two separate incidents.

Biner Iwan Togatoro, 40, one of seven members of an armed gang which usually operates in Greater Jakarta, was captured in the first raid at 9 a.m..

Biner was driving a Kijang van on Jl. H. Juanda in Bekasi with eight of his accomplices when the police stopped them.

"When the officers asked them to get out of the vehicle, they suddenly flee and only Biner (the driver) was caught red-handed with a sickle, two machetes, a sword, fake number plates, hydraulic scissors and rope," Aritonang explained.

Earlier in the day, the Bekasi Police apprehended four alleged truck robbers: Lukman, 37, Muhadi, 35, Asep bin Atama, 27 and Ali Umar, 55.

"They have been on the police's most wanted list for about a year. They specialize in robbing trucks. Police captured them driving a truck carrying two tons of thread," Aritonang said.

The operation will be continued at least until the third week of this month, Aritonang said. (edt)