Men face 12 years for gold robbery

Men face 12 years for gold robbery

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked West Jakarta District Court
yesterday to impose a 12-year sentence on two men for their
involvement in a gold robbery which resulted in the fatal
shooting of a police sergeant.

Prosecutor Muchidin said the defendants, identified as
Sudarto, 47, and Ridwan, 25, together with six accomplices -- who
are still at large -- robbed Liem Siu Tjui alias Sony on Jl. Dr.
Soesilo Raya, Grogol on Aug. 1, last year.

The six accomplices were identified as Budi Setiawan, Bandi,
Muin, Arifin, Dadi and Purwanto.

"The gang stole 1.1 kilograms of gold from Sony and killed
Witono, the police sergeant who was escorting Sony in the
transport of gold," Muchidin said.

The gang of robbers saw Sony riding a motorcycle from Grogol
toward Roxy, with Witono, who held a bag containing the gold,
sitting behind him, he said.

Muchidin said the gang followed their targets and later
approached and stopped the motorcycle.

Arifin, Bandi, Muin, Budi jumped from their motorcycles and
chased Witono, who tried to run away with the gold. Muin slashed
Witono across the back with a sickle, he said.

Arifin later killed Witono, shooting him three times, when the
officer tried to fight the robbers, he said.

Muchidin charged the defendants under Article 365 (2) of the
Criminal Code. (jun)