A man dressed in black ambushed in Ancol Baru

JAKARTA (JP): Residents of Jl. Raya Ancol Baru in North Jakarta arrested a man on Saturday who they accused of being one of the ninja-like killers targeting Moslem preachers and suspected black magic practitioners, an officer said.

A police officer at the North Jakarta Police Station quoted the local residents as saying that the man, later identified as Edi, was on the street at midnight wearing a black outfit.

"The local residents said Edi was attired in ninja-like black clothing," said the police officer, who requested anonymity.

A preliminary investigation suggests that the allegation is groundless.

"There's no strong evidence to support the allegation that the man is a member of the killer bands. However, Edi is still in our custody," he said, adding that the man was 100 percent sane.

News of the murder spree spreading from East and Central Java to Jakarta has worried city residents and Moslem preachers over the past few weeks.

Last Wednesday night, a man dressed in batik was also caught while trespassing at the Asshiddiqiyah Islamic boarding school in Tangerang.

Preacher Nur Muhammad Iskandar, who is head of the school, said the man had loitered around the school since evening.

When night fell, the man tried to enter the school building complex, but students blocked his way and asked the purpose of his visit, he said.

"I have an enemy inside this building. My treasure is inside this building," Nur quoted the man as saying.

The man said he was at the school at his own initiative. He was later taken to Ceper Police Station for questioning.

Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto confirmed the arrest and identified the man AS, 25, saying he was mentally disturbed.

"We were suspicious from the beginning because the man answered all our questions incorrectly," Pudji said.

After being questioned, AS was taken to Kramat Jati Police Hospital in East Jakarta for observation.

His brother, Zainudin, said AS had been mentally disturbed since his divorce three years ago.

He said his brother had not returned to his house on Jl. Pedurenan in South Jakarta since. (ivy)