Ex-soldier linked to bank robbery

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Medan Police suspect a former member of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) played a role in a recent bank robbery that claimed three lives.

Maj. M. Ginting, a senior officer at Bukit Barisan Military Command overseeing the province, said on Saturday that he was informed by police that a sketch of one of the suspects resembled that of a soldier identified as Somson.

"However, the suspicion must be verified through further investigation by the police," Ginting said.

Police named four suspects in the robbery of the Lippo Bank branch office in Medan early this month. None of the suspects have been captured.

The robbers shot three security officers of the bank and took Rp 113 million. -- JP