Another criminal shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): Police shot dead another alleged criminal near the crowded Cililitan bus terminal in East Jakarta early Tuesday morning, bringing to 24 the number of alleged criminals shot dead by police over the last two months.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Tuesday that the suspect, identified as R. Siregar, was shot after he was caught robbing a woman and resisted arrest.

"Siregar was shot twice, once in the leg and once in the back. He died at the scene," Lubis said, adding that the victim was believed to be a local hoodlum who often committed crimes in the area.

Lubis said at about 1 a.m. the suspect attempted to rob Mrs. Weti, 50, on board a public minivan plying the Kampung Melayu- Pasar Minggu route.

Mrs. Weti was reportedly the only passenger on the minivan, which Siregar boarded as it was about to reach the bus terminal, Lubis said.

"Siregar pointed a sharp weapon at Mrs. Weti and ordered her to give him her handbag, containing Rp 175,000 (US$20) in cash."

Siregar then got off the minivan but Mrs. Weti's scream alerted a nearby crowd of people, according to Lubis.

"Police detective Lt. Guntur, who was in the crowd, immediately ran after Siregar, who left the minivan carrying the handbag," Lubis said, adding that three warning shots were fired to stop the suspect.

When Siregar was finally caught by Guntur with the help of local residents, the suspect pulled out a knife. "He was shot in the back as he was about to slash one of the people who helped catch him," Lubis said, adding this shot was the fatal one. No details were available on when the officer shot the victim in the leg.

Lubis said that Siregar's body was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta for a postmortem examination. (emf)