Man murdered over Rp 1,000

JAKARTA (JP): An interior designer who was brutally stabbed six times on Tuesday in front of the Delli restaurant in Manggarai, South Jakarta, finally died at a hospital in Central Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon.

Setiabudi detectives are still searching for five illegal parking attendants, who work very near the Delli restaurant, in connection with the stabbing of the victim, identified as Sugiono Siregar, 39, a resident of Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Setiabudi Police chief of detectives First Insp. Toga said on Wednesday that according to eyewitnesses and the victim's brother, Sugiono was driving in his Isuzu Panther van in the Manggarai area on Tuesday night, apparently heading for home, and had to make U-turn Jl. Manggarai, right in front of the Delli restaurant.

"There were five illegal parking attendants, already waiting there. Sugiono made the turn, and gave one of them Rp 1,000. The five men said that it was not enough, since there was reportedly very heavy traffic then," Toga told reporters on Wednesday.

"Sugiono did not give them any more money. So, the five men attacked him. Sugiono managed to cry for help. Local residents rushed to his aid but the suspects got away."

Toga added that after further investigation, police learned that the "hoodlums" were not residents of Jl. Manggarai and that nobody in the neighborhood seemed to know the five men.

"We are still looking for them." he said. (ylt)