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)