Bank workers, pedestrian shot in armed robbery

JAKARTA (JP): Two bank employees and a pedestrian were shot during an armed robbery in the parking lot of Harapan Kita Hospital in West Jakarta yesterday morning.

The robbers seized a briefcase containing Rp 5 million (US$770) cash which was being delivered to a Bank Central Asia (BCA) branch office at the hospital, said City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang.

Witnesses claim that there were at least six robbers involved in the incident.

"The identities of the robbers are not yet clear. But we'll get some clues from the results of the forensic examination on the evidence found at the scene," Aritonang told reporters.

He said five bullet cases, two projectiles and a magazine were found at the scene.

Aritonang, however, refused to comment on the types of guns believed to be used by the criminals.

"I won't say anything about the types of the guns or the calibers of the bullets, not until the examination results are known," he said.

Indonesian law prohibits civilians to own and carry firearms.

Police identified the three victims, who were being treated at Pelni Hospital in Tanah Abang, West Jakarta, as Sujatno, 40, Wagimin, 50, and Sudarmin, 49.

Sujatno and Wagimin, both employed by BCA, are respectively a driver and a security guard.

Aritonang said the two, along with two other bank employees named Lina, 25, and Merry, 24, drove into the hospital parking lot at 8:40 a.m. from another nearby BCA branch office at Tarumanegara University.

Tug-of-war

The robbery occurred just after the employees had handed the briefcase to a security guard of the bank's hospital branch office and were ready to get back inside their car, said Aritonang.

"A man on a motorcycle approached Catur (the security guard) and grabbed the case from him," Aritonang said.

Before the robber could take the briefcase, the two were briefly involved in a tug-of-war, he added.

"Realizing that it was a robbery, Wagimin and Sujatno turned to help Catur but were shot by other robbers riding in on three motorcycles," he said.

Wagimin was shot in the abdomen and one of his thighs, while Sujatno was hit in one of his thighs and feet, he said.

Separately, Sujatno told ANteve that the incident happened very quickly and it was impossible to defend himself.

"We had just handed over the case to a security officer of the branch (Catur) and were ready to leave the parking lot. I was standing near one of the car's back doors when a man suddenly came over and shot me.

"The man said nothing. He just shot me twice. He then shot Wagimin inside the car when he tried to pull out his gun," said Sujatno.

He also said that there were at least two people trying to take the bag from Catur.

Catur reported that he could not do much to stop the robbers.

"I tried to hold on to the case. But I lost my grip when I saw another robber shoot the people in the car," he told the private television station.

Catur said he only had the chance to hit the suspect who had grabbed the case from him in the head.

"I remembered one of the robbers was wearing sunglasses and another one was a tall, big man. They were each riding a motorcycle," he said.

Aritonang said one of the robbers fired some shots into the air and the surrounding area as he and the other robbers escaped with the case.

"Two of the shots apparently hit Sudarmin (the pedestrian) who was walking toward the hospital building. He was shot in both of his arms," he said.

The speed and violence of the robbery reportedly stunned witnesses who could do little to stop the crime.

According to Wagimin's wife, Sri Rejeki, cash deliveries between the two branches were common.

"This is not the first time my husband was assigned to guard such a delivery. I don't understand why it could be like this," the mother of four told reporters at Pelni Hospital.

She said her husband, a retired Army chief sergeant, had been a security officer at the bank for seven months.

Aritonang said the case was being investigated by the West Jakarta Police Precinct.

Under Article 365 of the Criminal Code, the robbers, if caught, could face a maximum 12 years in jail if found guilty of robbing and assaulting the victims. (cst)