Alleged robber tries to commit suicide

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)