Brimob officer arrested over auto thefts

JAKARTA (JP): Detectives from the City Police violent crimes unit detained an officer of the elite National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) on Wednesday in connection with auto theft cases.

"This Brimob officer will lead us to other suspects," unit chief Adj. Comr. Tagam Sinaga told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

"Until we get proper evidence, we cannot name this officer a suspect...he's still a witness.

"This case has no connection with the shooting of an Army officer by police officers late last week, also for auto theft crimes."

City Police records identified the Army officer as Chief Sgt. Sambas Atmadinata of the Army's aircraft squadron in Pondok Cabe, South Jakarta.

Sambas was shot in the leg late last week by City Police detectives when he allegedly tried to escape arrest near the Cikampek tollgate, 97 kilometers east of Jakarta.

He is being treated in the National Police Kramatjati Hospital in East Jakarta.

Police records state that Sambas, who allegedly has been involved in at least three auto thefts, was tracked down by detectives in the Maremang Kalijati area of Subang, West Java, where he was attending a family wedding party.

"We tried to arrest him there but he resisted and refused to come with us to City Police headquarters," said a City Police detective who asked to remain anonymous.

"We spoke with Sambas's family members who were present. They convinced him that it was in his best interest to come with us.

"On our way to police headquarters, we were about to enter the Cikampek tollgate when Sambas said he wanted to use a roadside restroom.

"He got out of the car and tried to run off, but was shot by police in the leg." (ylt)