Local residents catch suspected killers of cabbie

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)