Local residents catch suspected killers of cabbie

JAKARTA (JP): A taxi driver was allegedly stabbed to death in a robbery attempt by two teenage passengers on Tuesday night. The two suspects were later captured and beaten up after they stopped for help when the vehicle broke down in Bekasi.

The victim, identified as 42-year-old Erwin Suharja, the driver of a Blue Bird Cendrawasih taxi, was thought to have died instantly from the seven stab wounds to his back and head.

"A cable was also wrapped around his neck," said a chief sergeant at the Bantar Gebang police station, who asked for anonymity.

Police believe Erwin was attacked from behind and was not able to defend himself at all.

The two suspects, identified as Sihombing and Yanto, were detained at the station for further questioning.

The sergeant said that Sihombing and Yanto stopped Erwin's taxi in Rawa Panjang, Cileungsi, in East Jakarta at about 10 p.m.

"They asked Erwin to take them to the Bulog compound in Bekasi and ordered him to take them through quiet areas rather than via the toll road or other busy streets," he said.

The suspects reportedly murdered the victim as soon as they reached the Bekasi area and intended to dump Erwin's body at the nearby Bantar Gebang garbage dump.

"However, as the taxi broke down before they reached the dump, one of the suspects went to a nearby house to borrow a flashlight," the sergeant said.

Without being at all suspicious, the house owner followed the suspect, who seemed to be in a panic and in badly need of help.

As soon as the house owner saw bloodstains on the taxi's doors and saw what he thought was a wounded person in the back seat, he rushed to alert his neighbors.

"Sihombing and Yanto were then immediately beaten up by the residents," he said.

He was unclear about the cash or other belongings, which the two culprits had taken from Erwin.

"I don't think they had a chance to steal the money," Heri Sumarsono, a colleague of Erwin, said.

Erwin, a father of five, was taken to the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for a postmortem.

At least 10 Cendrawasih taxies arrived at the morgue with yellow flags on their radio antennas as a sign of condolence. They then escorted Erwin's body to his house in Kampung Jati in Jatinegara, East Jakarta.

Erwin is due to be buried in Karawang on Thursday. (emf)