Thu, 16 Sep 1999

Motive for bank employee kidnapping 'unclear'

JAKARTA (JP): The motive for the kidnapping on Tuesday of a Bank Universal employee at the main office on Jl. Rasuna Said in Kuningan, South Jakarta, remains unclear, a bank official said.

The bank's media relation officer, Albertus Pratomo, said on Wednesday that Mamat Suganda, 34, a deposit department supervisor in the bank's main office, was taken from the bank building's parking lot, shortly after leaving the office at about 5:30 p.m.

A witness, identified as Agus, said that he, Mamat and another bank official were in the parking lot when three men approached Mamat, pointed a gun at the latter's stomach, handcuffed him and dragged him into a vehicle.

"The car was a red Suzuki Jimny. But I could not see its number plate because a part of it was bent by the kidnappers," Agus said.

The two witnesses were at the time in a state of shock, and did not attempt to stop the car, Agus said.

South Jakarta Police are currently trying to locate the site where Mamat is being held and to seek the motive for the abduction.

Mamat, a father of three young children, has been working at the bank for 15 years. As a deposit department supervisor, he has an extensive knowledge on clients of his department, including the amount of their deposits.

"He is a good employee. We cannot think of any reasons for the abduction," Albertus said, denying the possibility that Mamat was abducted because of his current position at the bank.

"Probably, (the abduction is) because of personal matters," he said.

Mamat's wife, Suhartini, said her husband has never had any problems with his job or in his personal life.

"He was only complaining about a possible reshuffle in his office, but nothing else," she told The Jakarta Post.

She regretted that Mamat's friends did not try to stop the three kidnappers.

Suhartini said her 1.85-meter, 75-kilogram dark-skinned husband, was not feeling in good health on the day he left his office. "I hope that the kidnappers will have the heart to free him as soon as possible," she said. (04)