Drunken killer still at large

LUWUK, Central Sulawesi: Police are still hunting a sadistic killer named Jalisa two weeks after the 40-year-old suspect murdered two local people and wounded six others on a ship.

"We are still hunting down the suspect," said First Insp. Mito, Banggai Police chief of detectives.

According to Mito, the police were concentrating their search for Jalisa in the vicinity of Gonggong and Mongsongan beaches on Banggai Island, where he was suspected of hiding out.

These areas are closest to where Jalisa disembarked from the ship two weeks ago.

The attacks occurred as the passenger vessel Fungka Permata, was en route from Banggai port to Palabisahaya port on Taliabu Island in Maluku. On the voyage to Palabisahaya, some passengers warned Jalisa to stop drinking the traditional alcoholic drink tuak he had brought with him as he was already drunk.

Apparently enraged by the admonishment, Jalisa attacked a number of fellow passengers with a machete. As a result, two passengers, La Ode Dedi, 27 and Latamu, 50, died, while another six passengers were badly wounded. -- Antara