Alleged robber tries to commit suicide

JAKARTA (JP): Police said an alleged robber panicked and attempted to commit suicide by drinking liquid insecticide yesterday after a man was killed during a robbery at Pondok Gede Plaza, Bekasi.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the 20-year- old suspect, Rohimin, tried to kill himself after police surrounded the complex's Naga super store.

He said Rohimin, an employee in the store's packaging division, was found dying on the floor about 50 meters from the body of Hayat, 45.

"Rohimin must have felt panicky and frustrated when he realized that he could go to jail for the robbery and the murder of the victim, who was actually one of his colleagues in the store."

Rohimin remains in a critical condition at Kramat Jati Police Hospital in East Jakarta, while Hayat's relatives said the body of the father of four was to be transported to Lampung for burial.

Aritonang said that Hayat, the head of the store's finance division, was found dead with a plastic rope tied around his neck.

The robbery is believed to have occurred when Hayat, the only employee with a key to the store, arrived to open it early yesterday morning, he said.

"That's why our preliminary investigation has indicated Rohimin is the potential suspect because he was not supposed to be in the store at that time.

"And, we also found several pieces of evidence which lead to that conclusion."

Aritonang said a police dog used at the scene had found a scent which led the officers to Rohimin.

"If Rohimin was not afraid of the consequence he must bear for being involved in the robbery or murder, he would not have to drink the insecticide."

He said officers were notified after a passerby heard noises inside the closed store about 7:30 a.m.

Police had been unable to question Rohimin as he was still in a critical condition.

Preliminary investigations also suggested that Hayat may have allowed Rohimin into the store but the latter ended up killing him, Aritonang said.

"So far we suspect that Rohimin was planning to rob the store. But there could be another motive behind his actions."

There is no evidence the alleged robber had accomplices, he said. And witnesses said they had not seen anyone leave the store that morning.

"However, we are not dismissing the possibility that there was another suspect or that it was not Rohimin who committed the robbery. We're still collecting information and evidence." (09/cst)