Australian businessman holds wife and employees hostage

Australian businessman holds wife and employees hostage

SURABAYA (JP): Police besieged the house of an Australian
businessman on Jl. Puncak Permai in Tandes on Tuesday after he
opened fire on officers attempting to question him over an
alleged swindle.

The police still had the house surrounded as of 8 p.m. as they
waited for an official from the Australian Embassy in Jakarta to
arrive to negotiate with Peter Negal, 60, a supplier of luxury
household goods. Police said the negotiator would arrive on
Wednesday.

South Surabaya Police chief of detective Sr. Insp. Egar
Diponegoro said one of the officers sent to the Australian's
residence was nearly shot when Negal opened fire on them. The
officers were attempting to question Negal after his Indonesian
business partners filed a police report accusing him of
embezzling their money.

"Negal has been hiding in his house since he and his partners
were involved in a dispute at their office in Pakuwon Indah on
Monday night," Egar said.

When the police arrived at the Australian's residence, the
expatriate refused to leave his house, where he is holding six
people, including his Indonesian wife Ivanna, 25, hostage.

"The house's doors and windows were locked when the police
arrived. We tried to phone him, but one of his maids answered
and soon the line was disconnected. It looks like he is using the
people inside the house as a shield," Egar said.

Besides Ivanna, three female maids and three men who
reportedly work as couriers for Negal are being held hostage.

Egar said Negal could be charged with assault and the illegal
possession of a weapon.

"He attacked police officers and ignored our warnings. As for
his residence status and his permit for the gun, these will soon
be investigated," Egar said.

The status of the people inside the house remained unknown,
but police said they would continue to monitor the situation.
(nur/edt)