Former soldier shot dead for robbery in Tangerang
Former soldier shot dead for robbery in Tangerang
TANGERANG (JP): Police have shot dead a former soldier
suspected of committing a series of robberies in Tangerang and
Jakarta, an officer said.
Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Puji Hartanto said the former
sergeant, identified as Cucu Syamsudin, 45, was shot dead on Jl.
Raya Cikande in Serang here on Wednesday. He was believed to have
been the leader of a gang suspected of committing eight robberies
in recent years.
"He was shot after he resisted arrest," Puji said on
Wednesday, adding that police opened fire in accordance with the
existing procedures.
The shooting took place after police arrested a man believed
to be financing the gang's activities on Tuesday night.
The suspect, Ape, 45, admitted that Cucu's gang had recently
robbed a gold trader named Sukandi on Jl. Raya Koper in Kresek.
He also revealed the location of Cucu's hideout in Serang, the
officer explained.
Police then launched a search for the former soldier in Serang
and intercepted on Jl. Raya Cikande.
The fugitive pulled over and opened fire. He shot four rounds
before falling to the ground with wounds to his left leg, right
hand and chest, Puji said.
The wounded man was rushed to Tangerang General Hospital, but
died on the way, he added.
Police recovered a revolver loaded with one round, four spent
cartridges, 15 bullets for a Colt-38 pistol, an Armed Forces
membership card and two identity cards.
He said that Cucu operated under two different identities, one
under his own name with residency in Sumedang and the other under
the name of Ecep Emed registered in Serang.
Puji said that Cucu's gang was suspected of an involvement in
at least eight robberies in Tangerang and Jakarta. The gang
targeted gold traders and bank customers, on one occasion making
off with Rp 100 million in cash seized from a man leaving a bank
in Karawang, West Java, in 1992.
The gang is also suspected of robbing Rp 30 million from a
truck in Pasar Pagi, North Jakarta, in March 1998, Rp 30 million
from a shoe factory in Cikupa last September and Rp 30 million
from a North Jakarta warehouse later that same month.
In October, the gang robbed a bank customer of 100 million and
shot an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver on the airport toll road
while making their escape, he said.
Later the same month, the gang stole 600 grams of gold from a
gold trader in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, he added. (41/jun)