Legislator's house raiders identified

JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta police have identified people believed to have ignited a fire at a Golkar legislator's official residence Monday morning.

But they refused to reveal any identities or the number of suspects.

"We're still tracing them. The fire was allegedly committed by naughty boys without any political motives," South Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Sisno Adiwinoto told reporters yesterday.

The back of John Manafe's residence in the Kalibata legislators housing complex was slightly damaged in the early hours of Monday.

No fatalities were reported. The suspects apparently left the scene immediately after committing the crime.

The mysterious attack was the third such one at the complex for House of Representatives members and their families.

The other two cases occurred recently at the residences of legislator Andi Matalatta and Saidun Ali, also both from the Golkar faction.

The unknown suspects threw feces at and wrote obscene remarks on the walls of the houses.

According to Sisno, preliminary police investigations into the three cases found no evidence which suggested a political motive.

"All of them are pure crimes," he said.

He said officers were still investigating whether the three crimes were committed by the same suspects, all of whom are still at large.

In order to avoid further such incidents, Sisno called on the complex's tenants to set up an integrated security system which could be connected to a nearby police station.

"The complex has its own security guards which have nothing to do with the police," he said.

Installing an integrated system at the complex, such as closed-circuit televisions or an infra-red security system, would help police reach the scene to catch any intruders.

"Yes it's expensive but security has its own price," said Sisno. (cst/bsr)