Bank robbers stab police officer

JAKARTA (JP): Two men who tried to rob a bank customer of Rp 24 million (US$9,840) yesterday stabbed the victim and a police officer in the process.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said one man stabbed Yunardi in the back in the parking lot of the Bank Central Asia on Jl. Tebet Barat Raya.

"Sgt. Maj. Widianto who had just come out of the bank and tried to foil the robbery sustained wounds from a sickle on his head and hand," Aritonang said.

He said Yunardi was now being treated at MMC Hospital while Widianto was being treated at Tebet Hospital.

Yunardi's sister, Eries Ayuning, told police that she, Yunardi and her sister Erina were about to leave her Kijang van when two unidentified men approached them on a Yamaha RX King motorcycle.

She said one of the men threatened Yunardi, who was carrying a handbag containing the money, with a sickle.

Yunardi, who tried to resist the man, was stabbed in the back, she said.

Eries shouted for help when she saw Yunardi was wounded. The money was scattered all over the parking lot.

Aritonang said Sgt. Widianto, who was on duty at the bank, came out and tried to foil the robbery.

He said the officer shot the man who was driving the motorcycle in the shoulder but the other man hit him and stabbed his left hand.

As Widianto fought with the sickle-wielder, the other robber fled empty-handed on the motorcycle, Aritonang said.

The second man escaped, also without any money, after injuring Widianto in the head.

Eries said she had just withdrawn the money from Bank Niaga on Jl. Supomo and was going to deposit it at the Bank Central Asia. (jun)