Notorious gang leader killed in hotel

Notorious gang leader killed in hotel

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Notorious gang leader Basri Sangaji, 35, was found dead early on
Tuesday in a hotel room, with a gunshot wound in the stomach and
several gashes on his chest and neck, Jakarta Police spokesman
Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said.

The police revealed that witnesses saw a group of heavily
armed men come to the hotel and go upstairs to Basri's room where
he had been staying since Oct. 2.

Several hotel employees and guests said they heard at least
two shots during an attack that lasted 10 minutes at about 3 a.m.

The attackers also dented Basri's black Lexus LX 470 parked
outside with a machete.

The armed men also injured Basri's brother Jamal and a friend,
Ali, who were in the room at the time of the attack. The two
suffered from slash wounds and were treated at the Metropolitan
Medical Center in South Jakarta.

Jakarta Police detectives chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang
said that they had questioned several witnesses. "But we haven't
found any suspects," he said.

He added the police found a loaded FN 45 pistol and two 9mm
bullet cases.

Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani made time to see
Jamal and Ali at the hospital, which was packed by gang members,
who handle security matters at several entertainment spots in the
capital.

Several renowned figures, including former Jakarta Police
chief Nugroho Djajoesman, Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader
Habib Riziq and members of Betawi Brotherhood Forum (FBR)
expressed their condolences to Basri's family at his house in
Pulomas Timur, East Jakarta, where Basri's body was laid out
before being flown to hometown Haruku district in Central Maluku.

His friends said that Basri was survived by 12 wives and
several children.

"He was handsome, well-built and rich, he had several houses
and several luxury cars like a Hummer, a Lexus and two Land
Cruiser jeeps," said one of Basri's subordinate.

Basri was detained for several days by the Jakarta Police in
May 2002. He was named a suspect in the shooting of another
infamous gang leader Hercules. But police later released him and
the case was closed.

During the first round of the presidential election, Basri was
in the campaign team of Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid.