Businessman dies 4 days after point-blank shooting
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)