Five police officers to be tried for robbery

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)