Bank robbers escape with Rp 400 million

JAKARTA (JP): Tangerang Police detectives are searching for the culprits who robbed the Bank Central Asia branch office on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Karawaci, west of here.

The thieves escaped with a safe containing Rp 400 million (about US$45.4 million) in the robbery, which took place at about 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.

The head of the Tangerang Police crime unit, Sr.Insp. Augustinus B. Pangaribuan, said on Friday police had questioned several witnesses in the case, including two bank security guards identified as Tonggo Sibutar-Butar, 27 and Yusuf, 27.

Tonggo, who reported the crime to the police, said he heard suspicious noises coming from the front of the building and opened the banks door to investigate.

He said one of six robbers then broke the glass in the door and warned Tonggo to remain silent. The robbers then tied him up before making off with the safe, he said.

According to Yusuf, who was on duty before the incident took place, an unidentified man telephoned and threatened to rob the bank, but he dismissed the call as a hoax. (41/07)