Businessman dies 4 days after point-blank shooting

JAKARTA (JP): A 35-year-old businessman who was shot at point- blank range by unknown assailants Saturday evening died at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital yesterday morning.

According to the police report, Charles Karuntu of Condet in East Jakarta was shot in the neck while driving in the Cidodol subdistrict in South Jakarta.

The bullet came out of the other side of his neck.

A detective from Cidodol said that the case was reported by local residents at around 7:30 p.m.

The detective, who refused to be named, declined to reveal any more details of the victim's identity.

According to his relatives, Charles was involved in several business ventures, including owning a fishing pond at Jatiluhur in West Java.

Police dismissed the possibility that the victim was robbed before being shot by the criminals.

"There were no signs of robbery at the scene at all," the police detective said.

Police said that Charles was first taken to Medika Ananda hospital in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta. However, the hospital management said they were unable to treat the victim's wounds due to lacking suitable medical equipment.

He was then rushed to the intensive care unit at Cipto Mangunkusumo.

Bleeding

Doctor Batara S. Tampubolon at Cipto Mangunkusumo said Charles died at 5:15 a.m. yesterday from the serious bleeding in his neck wounds.

Charles was shot once but at point-blank range, he said.

"And he was already in a very critical condition when he arrived here," said Batara.

Charles' relatives, puzzled by the shooting, asked the police to investigate immediately.

"I think we have the right to ask the police to conduct the investigation thoroughly. Otherwise we will sue them," said Yulius Sondakh, 52, claiming to be the victim's uncle.

According to Yulius, Charles was a good man and -- as far as he knew -- had no enemies.

"The last time I saw him was at his wedding reception last month at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (in East Jakarta)," said Yulius.

Charles' wife, Betsy Mawuntu, 30, who was one month pregnant, was shocked when she heard of the death of her husband.

Surrounded by reporters at the hospital's morgue yesterday, Betsy kept saying that Charles was still alive.

"He's only sick and doesn't want to wake up," said Betsy through tears streaming down her face. "I have to tell him about this child," she continued, clutching her abdomen.

Yulius said that Betsy had not yet informed Charles about her pregnancy.

The relatives said Charles would be buried at Pondok Rangon cemetery in East Jakarta.

However, the family was not allowed to remove the body until the police had conducted an autopsy in the afternoon. (04)