Five people arrested for violent burglary

JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Police have arrested four men and a woman from a group of six who allegedly stole five 100-gram gold bars, Rp 2 million (US$854.70) in cash and some jewelry from a shop house, while wounding the shop's owner and her maid.

Lt. Col. Rismanto, the newly-appointed North Jakarta Police chief, said yesterday that the violent burglary on Wednesday was allegedly plotted by Marsikah, alias Sri, 25; the only female member of the group. Sri was once a maid at the victim's house.

"During questioning, she admitted that the loot from their robbery was to be sold on the black market to finance her upcoming second marriage with Bejo Wahono, 28, another member of the group," said Rismanto, a former officer at the Jakarta Police intelligence and security directorate.

Accompanied by police spokesman-in-charge Maj. Nyoman Suryasta, Rismanto said the incident took place at the two-story shop house owned by the victim, Susana, on Jl. K No.10 in Pejagalan subdistrict at around 1 p.m. Wednesday.

Sri was the first person to enter the house on the pretense of getting her sandals, which she left behind when she was recently sacked by Susana, 25, because of being lazy, said Rismanto.

"Shortly after Susana permitted Sri to take her sandals from the house, the male members rushed into the living room and went upstairs," said the officer.

Hearing a strange noise in the living room, Susana hastily entered.

"She was allegedly stabbed by a dagger in the forehead by Bejo while Sri allegedly hit her in the back with a crowbar," said Rismanto.

Susana's only maid, Aisyah, screamed loudly when she saw her employer being attacked.

"The maid's scream attracted neighbors and passers-by to come to the shop house, causing the suspected robbers to quickly run away," said Rismanto.

But one of them, identified as Naswin, 26, was captured by the people, he said.

"A few hours later, our police detectives nabbed Sri, her boyfriend Bejo and another suspect, Purnomo, 31, at the low-class red-light district of Kalijodo in West Jakarta," said the officer.

Another suspect, Amir, 33, was arrested yesterday morning while trying to sell the stolen gold bars to a jewelry shop near Kalijodo, the officer said.

"The remaining suspect, Yanto, whose identity is quite clear to us, is still at large," said Rismanto.

A preliminary investigation has revealed that Sri worked for Susana for only two days. (bsr)