Man shot dead for attempted robbery

JAKARTA (JP): Police shot a man dead Monday for allegedly attempting to rob a passenger on a public transportation minibus in Teluk Gong, North Jakarta.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that an officer on patrol shot Suryadi bin Supadi, 22, Monday afternoon after spotting the suspect threatening a passenger on the minibus.

He said Suryadi had allegedly tried to rob Tanijah, 39, a housewife, who was on her way home to Kapuk, West Jakarta.

"Suryadi threatened her with a dagger and demanded her handbag. Other passengers and the driver were apparently frightened and didn't try to stop him," Aritonang said.

They passed Jl. Teluk Gong when they passed by the officer on patrol, he said.

The officer, whose name was not given, saw the passengers and driver acting strangely, he said.

The officer told the driver to pull over after seeing the man threaten the passenger with the knife, Aritonang said.

"The driver pulled over despite Suryadi's threats. Suryadi said he would stab one of the passengers if the vehicle stopped," he said.

As the car stopped, Suryadi panicked and then quickly jumped out and ran.

Aritonang said the officer asked Suryadi to stop running and fired a warning shot.

"But Suryadi kept on running. The officer then shot him," he said. Suryadi was shot in the back of the head and died on the way to the hospital. (cst)