Notorious crook shot to death

TANGERANG (JP): Local police detectives in Tangerang shot dead one of the town's most wanted armed robbers in an early morning raid on Tuesday, an officer said.

Greater Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang, told the media that the detectives had to shoot Suhendra, 28, in the chest and left knee when the latter tried to resist arrest by attacking the officers with a sickle, during the raid at the town's park.

According to the officer, Suhendra was widely known as the leader of a gang of armed robbers who operated inside public buses plying the town's busy street, Jl. Daan Mogot.

"Although shot, Suhendra was still able to escape by hitching a ride in a passing car and threatening the driver to carry him," Aritonang said.

The detectives, using their patrol vehicles, followed the car but had to stop after driving some 500 meters, as the suspect had apparently died from his wounds, the officer was quoted by Antara as saying.

The Tangerang police have also apprehended three other gang members, Nawi, Cecep and Sudin, aged between 22 and 27. (bsr)