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.