Army ready to help police investigate fatal robbery

Army ready to help police investigate fatal robbery

JAKARTA (JP): The Army has threatened to take strong action
against any member proved to have been involved in last month's
armed robbery and the subsequent violent death of a suspect in
Bogor police custody.

Responding to speculations about the involvement of army
members in the case, spokesman Brig. Gen. Robik Mukav said "No
excuses would be provided for the perpetrators."

The Army was ready to help police investigate the toll road
armed robbery, which caused the deaths of Zaenuddin Lesmana and
suspect Tjetje Tadjudin, said Robik.

"We are ready to deploy a special team to help the police if
they encounter difficulties in their investigation, especially
because there is the alleged involvement of military corps in the
armed robbery and the death of Tjetje Tadjudin," Robik said.

He denied allegations that the Army intended to influence
police investigation or shield members who committed crimes. He
guaranteed the Army would remain objective.

"What is the use of protecting murderers? It would be a very
costly exercise for an organization like the Army," he said.

When asked about Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung's
earlier claim that no soldiers had been involved in the robbery
and murder, Robik said it had been "a conditional statement."

"Military leaders get daily reports of cases involving the
Armed Forces. Gen. Feisal's statement was valid only for the day
he issued it," he said.

He pointed out that public statements could differ as a case
progressed.

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo said last week
that soldiers may have been involved in the armed robbery. Police
found shells from an FN 45 gun, one of the official guns used by
the Indonesian Army, near the scene of the crime.

But no soldiers were involved in the violence that led to the
death of Tjetje Tadjudin, said Dibyo.

The National Commission on Human Rights conducted an
investigation into the armed robbery and the murder after
receiving complaints about police mistreatment from relatives of
the robbery's two suspects, Tjetje Tadjudin and Norman Lubis.

Tjetje and Norman, initially witnesses, were detained for
their alleged roles in the robbery which killed Zaenuddin
Lesmana, a property development company employee.

Zaenuddin had just withdrawn Rp 650 million (US$ 276,478),
belonging to his employer, from the BRI bank in Bogor when three
men in a Kijang van intercepted his car. One of the men shot
Zaenuddin and stole Rp 350 million from the trunk. Tjetje and
Norman were in the car but escaped unhurt.

Police investigations found that Tjetje and Norman were
involved and they were detained at Bogor Police prison.

Ten days later, police said Tjetje died from "respiratory
problems" while being transported to Bogor's PMI hospital. The
hospital said Tjetje had been tortured to death. (imn)