Armed robbers nab teachers' payroll

MEDAN, North Sumatra: A band of armed robbers ambushed a car at Sei Balai palm plantation, Asahan regency, some 200 kilometers from here, and made off with a teachers' payroll of Rp 1.2 billion on Monday night.

The incident occurred as the money was being transported by jeep from the Kisaran branch of Bank Rakyat Indonesia to Tanjung Tiram.

A bank employee, UM Situmeang, who was driving the Taft jeep was shot in the chest and remained in critical condition on Tuesday.

Antara reported that a car cut in front of the jeep as it passed the plantation and fired a shot which hit Situmeang.

Three men then rushed out of the car and held up the two other men inside the jeep. They then took the case which contained the payroll.

Asahan Police said they were still investigating the case.