Man shot in payroll robbery

JAKARTA (JP): East Jakarta Police detectives are on the hunt for two people in connection with the midday shooting of a man in a Rp 88.5 million (US$7,400) payroll robbery near Jl. Pondok Kelapa, East Jakarta, on Friday.

Duren Sawit subprecinct chief First. Insp. Sumanto identified the victim as Arif Hasan, 40, the manager of labor agency PT Kreasi Boga Primatama, who was shot in the hand.

"The police have repeatedly appealed to the public to ask for an escort when withdrawing money from banks. However, our requests hava fallen on deaf ears.

Sumanto said that Arif had withdrawn Rp 88.5 million from the Kelapa Gading branch of Bank Danamon to pay the salaries of the company's employees.

"Arif was accompanied during the withdrawal by the company accountant, Yulianti, 39, and a company employee, Boy Hendri, 40. The three had arrived at the bank in an Isuzu Panther van," Sumanto said.

When they were heading back to the company office, which is located in the Pondok Kelapa shopping complex, two raiders riding a Yamaha RX King motorcycle approached the car.

"One of the robbers shot Arif, who was driving, in his right hand. The robbers demanded that Arif hand over the money bag to them, which Arif did. The robbers then sped off," Sumanto said.

Local residents took Arif to the nearby Islam Pondok Kopi hospital, while Arif's colleagues reported the case to the police. (ylt)