Last year's crime rates show a slight increase

Last year's crime rates show a slight increase

JAKARTA (JP): The country registered a 0.7 percent rise in
crime in 1999 from the previous year, but the characteristics of
the cases were increasingly ruthless, National Police chief Gen.
Roesmanhadi said on Monday.

Briefing the media about overall police work during 1999, the
outgoing police chief said 111,457 criminal cases were recorded
during the year, slightly higher than 1998's 105,849.

"But 1999 was a year of vicious crimes. It's not in the
number, but in the characteristics of the crimes. We were kept
really busy throughout the year," the four-star general said.

"Outstanding cases of last year included street crimes and
narcotics."

According to police data, the most crime cases in 1999 were
recorded in East Java followed by Greater Jakarta, West Java,
North Sumatra and Central Java.

"For the people, the economic crisis is far from ending. They
are getting more desperate for money, and will do anything simply
to feed themselves," Roesmanhadi said.

He added that juvenile delinquency and drug offenses also
increased.

"Juvenile delinquency cases rose to 103 in 1999 from 67 in the
previous year. Drug offenses increased to 1,898 from 1,415 in
1998," he said.

Other crime cases that also showed a significant increase in
1999 included homicide, arson, torture, violent robbery and auto
theft.

On road accidents, Roesmanhadi said that 12,748 accidents were
recorded last year, slightly lower than the 1998 figure of
15,097.

A total of 10,454 people were killed, also lower compared to
11,778 in 1998.

Roesmanhadi also disclosed intense nationwide police raids on
suspected gambling dens. believed to be used as gambling dens.
There was a total of 929 gambling cases, he said.

The police war against trade in pirated and pornographic video
compact discs (VCDs) was also carried out in almost all
provinces, with 439 cases recorded.

Police also investigated 295 cases related to pornographic
materials, mostly concerning publications, in 25 provinces, he
said.

Unsolved Cases

Roesmanhadi also revealed his plan to meet members of the
House of Representatives (DPR) to disclose the latest results of
the police's investigation into the 1993 rape-murder of labor
activist Marsinah near Surabaya, East Jakarta, and the 1996
murder of journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, better known as
Udin, at his residence near Yogyakarta.

"We need to reveal the results, since DPR members don't
believe that we don't know more than they already do," the
officer said.

Late last year, a source at the National Police forensic
laboratories (Puslabfor) alleged that traces of blood of Marsinah
and several other victims were found at the Porong Military
District Command (Kodim) in East Java.

"It was terrible. Our Puslabfor officers saw it with their own
eyes. We took samples," the source said.

In the case of Udin, the source added, the main suspects in
the killing of the reporter were the then top officials of the
Bantul administration.

"In Udin's case though, we have not yet found solid proof," he
said.

In the fatal shooting of student protesters at Trisakti
University campus in West Jakarta in May 1998 and at the Semanggi
area several months later, Roesmanhadi said his officers found no
conclusive evidence to name any suspects.

But the National Police have formed more special teams to
investigate the cases.

A Puslabfor source claimed the shooter of Yap Yun Hap, a 23-
year-old student of the University of Indonesia who was killed
last Sept. 24, was already identified.

The source alleged that the 5.56 caliber bullet which killed
Yun Hap came from an Army standard issue weapon, belonging to
Second Pvt. TP of the Crack Riot Troops (PPRM).

"There were a total of 53 weapons being thoroughly
investigated. They were narrowed down to eight. Of the eight, no.
6 was the weapon which fit with our findings," the source said.

"The weapon was shot at random and was not aimed at anyone in
particular. The bullet hit the asphalt road, and ricocheted to
Yun Hap's back."

The bullet was 20.9 millimeters long and weighed 3.636
milligrams, the source said.

In the case of the four Trisakti fatalities, the two bullets
extracted from the bodies of students Heri Hartanto and
Hendriawan Sie were from SS-1 and M-16 A2 rifles.

Concerning the 1997 Bank Indonesia corruption case,
Roesmanhadi said that the main suspect was identified as a former
central bank director, Hendro Budianto.

"We still need the key witness, Hendra Rahardja, who is
undergoing extradition in Australia," Roesmanhadi said.

Hendra, who made the list of Indonesia's most wanted bankers,
fled the country in November 1997 following the liquidation of
his two banks, Bank Harapan Sentosa (BHS) and Bank Guna
International.

He is in a Sydney jail awaiting a procedural hearing on
Indonesia's extradition request. (ylt)