Alleged robbers die on the street for their crimes

JAKARTA (JP): Two suspected robbers were killed during separate incidents in West and North Jakarta on Thursday, police said.

One of the suspects, M. Adnan, 21, was beaten to death by a crowd on Jl. Latumeten in West Jakarta early Thursday morning, while the other, Hasan, 30, was killed by police during a shootout in Pluit, North Jakarta.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that Adnan was attacked by the crowd after they learned that he had stolen a wallet from a public minivan passenger.

"The crowd chased Adnan after they heard someone in a passing minivan yell at Adnan, who had just jumped out of the vehicle, and call him a robber."

The officer quoted witnesses as saying that Adnan had pointed a knife at the passenger, Samsuri, 25, and demanded his wallet.

After grabbing the wallet, the suspect jumped out of the vehicle, he said. The incident took place about 1 a.m.

Adnan suffered severe injuries and died on the way to hospital. No one involved in the attack has been arrested but several people have been questioned.

In the second incident, Hasan, and two accomplices were surrounded by local police officers as the suspects were about to leave a house in Pluit.

Aritonang said police had to shoot Hasan after the suspect fired at officers, who arrived at the scene after a phone call from a security guard at the housing complex.

"Realizing that Hasan had been shot, his two accomplices panicked and tried to attack the officers with sharp weapons," he said. "But they were both eventually handcuffed."

The two men who were arrested are Martin, 26, and Subandi, 32.

According to a police report, the three gained access to the house of asphalt vendor Edy Cahyono Yasin, 65, at 7 p.m. Thursday by pretending to be buyers.

"Soon after being allowed into the house, the three started hitting the owner and demanded he hand over all precious belongings," Aritonang said.

Hasan even used his gun to scare the victim, he said.

"One of the suspects slashed Edy's stomach with a sickle when he refused to inform them where he hid his money."

Edy's secretary, Lin, managed to escape without the knowledge of the robbers and inform the housing complex's security guard, he said.

"Lin, who was in another room when the suspects came to the house, managed to run out of the house through the back door after she realized that her boss was in danger."

The suspects only realized that another person had been in the house when they heard Lin screaming for help, he said.

Aritonang said the two arrested suspects may face a maximum penalty of 12 years in jail. (cst)