Man shot dead for killing 'ojek' driver

Man shot dead for killing 'ojek' driver

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police have shot dead a man and
arrested two of his accomplices for their alleged involvement in
the murder of an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver in the Menteng
area, an official said on Monday.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said that
the dead man was identified as Muri, 29, a soft drinks vendor in
the National Monument Park (Monas) area, who was shot on Jl. Pos
Pengumben in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta early Monday.

"Muri was shot as he resisted arrest. He even challenged the
officers to fight when ordered to hand over his sickle," Iman
said.

Muri was believed to have dead from bullet wounds in his left
thigh and temple.

The two arrested men were identified as Japra Sihombing, 22,
and Suhar bin Sumate, 17, while another suspect, identified as
Pusit, managed to run away.

Iman said the four belonged to a gang of robbers specializing
in stealing motorbikes from ojek drivers.

In the last two months, the group had stolen three motorbikes
in the Monas area.

The gang's latest action was carried out on Jan. 31 when they
allegedly killed an ojek driver named Wiyono and made away with
the latter's Astrea Grand motorcycle under the Gondangdia flyover
in Central Jakarta.

"Actually we never killed ojek drivers before as we only
wounded our targets when taking their motorcycles. But we were
forced to kill Wiyono as he screamed for help. He was stabbed in
the chest," Suhar said.

The uncovering of the Muri gang came about with the arrest of
Japra, a parking attendant in the Pejambon area, at his hideout
in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. From him police received a tip-
off about Muri's and Suhar's whereabouts.

"I was scared as I never thought that Suhar would slash the
driver with his sickle," Japra said. (emf)