Late treasurer's family denies charges in toll road robbery

BOGOR (JP): The family of a late treasurer shot dead in a robbery last year denied Thursday charges that the victim was involved in planning the crime.

Zaenuddin Lesmana, a treasurer in a land appropriation business group, was shot on Jagorawi toll road on Oct. 11 last year.

Two defendants on trial recently told Bogor District Court that Zaenuddin planned the robbery with them.

They had said the plan went sour because a real gun was used instead of a toy gun.

Erling Doly Wijaya alias Mikel, had said Zaenuddin told him he needed a lot of money to cover debts, and to buy a new car for his girlfriend. Prosecutors said the defendants and two other accomplices, who were still at large, took a bag containing Rp 312 million from Zaenuddin's car after killing him.

Zainal Abidin Ray, the uncle of the victim's wife, said, "If he needed money he could've asked me...it does not make any sense that Zaenuddin planned the robbery."

Zainal was also Zaenuddin's superior in a land appropriation business for a housing project in Jonggol, West Java.

Zainal also denied the victim had a girlfriend. He and Zaenuddin's wife, Meilia Rachmawati, were asked to give testimonies at Cibinong Prosecutor's Office against a businessman who headed the land appropriation group, Iedfil Jaya Anwar.

However Zainal and Meilia's testimonies at the prosecutor's office were for another case against Iedfil. Police said earlier they arrested Iedfil on two charges: involvement in car thefts and also for keeping a receipt of a house purchased by the victim from Iedfil. (24/anr)