Mastermind of fatal Bogor robbery freed

BOGOR (JP): The prosecutors' office has freed the alleged mastermind of the Jagorawi fatal robbery because charges against him were too weak, the head of the prosecutors' office said.

Amir Hasan Kataren, head of the Cibinong prosecutors' office, said yesterday Iedfil Jaya Anwar was freed because there was no evidence to indict him.

"It was Erling Doly Wijaya alias Mikel who told police interrogators that Iedfil was the mastermind. During additional interrogation by the prosecutors' office, Mikel withdrew his statement," Amir said yesterday.

"With the withdrawal we do not have a witness."

Amir said the charges against Iedfil were weak.

"We returned the dossier three times to the police before we finally asked for all the material evidence and interrogated Iedfil."

Iedfil was questioned by the prosecutors' office on April 10 and 15. His dossier with those of Mikel and Heri Faisal, alias Hendrik, was sent to Bogor District Court in early April.

Amir said he had not had time to retract the dossier from the court.

Mikel and Hendrik, whose trials started on April 14, are accused of being accessories to the robbery and murder of businessman Zainudin Lesmana on Oct. 11 last year.

Zaenudin was shot dead during the robbery and Rp 312 million was stolen from the trunk of his car.

The indictments against Mikel and Hendrik say that Iedfil asked Mikel to steal Zainudin's money and kill him if necessary. Mikel agreed and asked for Rp 50 million for the job. He then contacted a friend, identified as Iskandar. "Iskandar asked Budiarto and Hendrik to help Mikel," the indictments said.

Budiarto, who is believed to have shot Zainudin, and Iskandar have not been caught.

Iedfil had been in police custody since January. He was transferred to the Cibinong Prosecutors' Office on April 4.

Amir Hasan Kataren said his office held Iedfil at the Paledang penitentiary and until April 17, then released him because of "his innocence."

Bogor Police Chief Col. Dadang Garnida said he was disappointment with the decision to release Iedfil. He said the police had worked extra hard for months on the case and had arrested those believed to be involved.

"The public is watching the case. I don't have any idea why the man was released," Dadang said. He said the prosecutors' office had the right to do it. (24/sur)