Alleged pirates arrested

JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Police have arrested the alleged mastermind of last week's attack on a yacht anchored in Jakarta Bay, North Jakarta.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that police shot the man, identified as Abu, in the foot because he attacked officers during the arrest at his house on Jl. Cilandak, Karawang, West Java, on Sunday.

Two of Abu's accomplices were arrested earlier, while two others involved in the piracy are still at large, Aritonang said.

He said Abu had served a one-year jail term in Kalianda prison, Lampung, for a similar crime.

Aritonang said information on Abu's whereabouts was acquired from his arrested accomplices, Mar and MY.

Aritonang said the Indonesian Coast and Sea Guard Unit arrested the two on Tuesday and handed them over to the North Jakarta Police.

Abu and his four accomplices allegedly pirated the German yacht M.S. Schleswig -- a tug boat converted into a pleasure yacht -- which was anchored near the Horison Hotel in Ancol, on June 29.

The five attacked navigator Peter Loos who was asleep onboard at the time.

Loos, who sustained severe injuries in the attack, was taken to the MMC Hospital in Kuningan, South Jakarta. He was released Friday.

Richard Glattki, the German owner and captain of the yacht, said he lost Rp 30 million (US$12,244) in the attack.

Abu reportedly confessed to police that he stole the equipment onboard, including an electric generator, telescope, a briefcase containing four signal patterns, a pump, and a liquefied petroleum gas tank. He left the yacht by motorboat.

Police managed to recover some of the stolen equipment before it was fenced, Aritonang said.

Police also arrested two other men, Salim and Sukri, last week in Kalibaru, North Jakarta, for allegedly buying some of the stolen equipment.

Glattki said he had dropped anchor in Jakarta Bay because he could not afford the high cost of mooring at Marina Ancol. (cst)