Burglars tracked down and arrested in C. Java

Burglars tracked down and arrested in C. Java

JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives arrested two men believed
to have stolen 2.5 kilograms of gold jewelry and US$58,000 in
cash from a house belonging to a gold trader in South Jakarta two
weeks ago, a police officer said.

The suspects, identified as Marsidi, 23, and Sumar, 33, were
arrested on Monday at their houses in Bilangrejo village in
Demak, Central Java, city police chief of detectives Col. Alex
Bambang Riatmodjo said on Wednesday.

"The arrests were made after officers gathered evidence that
they were the (three) people who committed the robbery in South
Jakarta on March 13," Alex said.

"One of the suspects is still at large but we have discovered
his whereabouts," he added.

The robbery occurred at Liem Min Chi's house, currently under
renovation, in the Duren Villa housing complex in Cileduk.

According to Marsidi, a former minivan driver, he was told the
gold jewelry was in the house by an accomplice, Kus, who was
still at large.

He said Kus was a construction worker who was recruited by an
agency to work on the renovation of Liem's house.

Marsidi said Kus told him he had seen Liem wash the jewelry
and he planned to commit the robbery if the house was left empty.

"I agreed to join him because he promised me Rp 15 million for
my share. So we came up with a plan (to steal the jewelry) and we
invited another friend to carry out the crime," he said,
referring to Sumar.

On March 13, Kus told Marsidi to come to the house at around 6
p.m. after the other construction workers had gone home.

"Sumar was told to wait outside the house while we searched
for the jewelry inside the house," Marsidi said.

After finding the jewelry and the cash, the three fled the
scene of the crime. Kus then sold the jewelry for around Rp
80,000 per gram.

Both Marsidi and Sumar were told by Kus to leave Jakarta after
he paid them their share of the profits from the robbery,
suggesting they return to their hometowns in Demak.

"I bought a motorcycle and spent the remaining money helping
my parents renovate our house," Marsidi said.

Sumar said he spent the money on gambling, drinking and women.

"I never had a single thought about saving the money because I
believed such 'hot' money would not last long."

Both suspects are being detained at city police headquarters
for further questioning while police continue their search for
Kus. (emf)