Five police officers to be tried for robbery

JAKARTA (JP): Police headquarters will bring a case against five police officers suspected of having been involved in a robbery in Glodok, West Jakarta, to the military tribunal if preliminary investigations find them guilty, police said.

Police spokesman Brig. Gen. I Ketut Ratta told reporters yesterday that police headquarters has instructed the Jakarta police to complete its investigation on the case as soon as possible.

Glodok residents caught on Saturday six men suspected of being involved in a robbery at a house belonging to Mrs. Uung, a local resident. Five of the men were later found to be members of the city police force.

"It is an obsession among the police leadership that prompt action must be taken against violators within the police force. It is the police's duty to uphold the law, not violate it," Ratta said.

Answering the question of whether the five policemen would be dismissed from the force, Ratta said they would be if they were found guilty.

"I have said that there will be tough action taken if they are found guilty -- if necessary in a ceremony in the open yard, where they will be dishonorably discharged," Ratta said.

The six men reportedly arrived at the scene of the crime in cars and entered Mrs. Uung's house by jumping the fence and breaking in through a door upstairs.

They later forced the 41-year-old woman to come to their car and asked for money. Some residents who saw the incident suspected it was a robbery and a crowd gathered at the house and caught the men. The suspects were taken to the West Jakarta military office.

The residents were reportedly familiar with the policemen since they often asked for money and blackmailed owners of entertainment places around Glodok. (01)