One shot, two others nabbed for robberies

One shot, two others nabbed for robberies

JAKARTA (JP): The city police's detectives for violent crimes
fatally shot one man and arrested another two near the bustling
Kampung Melayu bus terminal in East Jakarta on Thursday in
connection with a series of street crimes, an officer said on
Friday.

City police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Harry Montolalu told
reporters that the three were part of a 10-member group suspected
of committing at least 11 crimes reported to police, ranging from
robberies on city buses to violence on city streets.

Harry said that two of the suspects, identified as Edy Busri
and Leman Siagian, were shot under the Kampung Melayu flyover for
resisting arrest at around 5 p.m.. Police apprehended the third
suspect, Saleh Suntala, unchallenged.

Edy was fatally shot in the back, while Leman, the group's
leader, was shot in the leg, Harry said.

City police chief of violent crimes Comr. Tagam Sinaga said
the bust followed reports from the general public that violent
robberies were taking place on certain buses.

Tagam said he ordered his officers to go undercover and
observe passengers on public buses plying the Pulogadung-Taman
Mini route in East Jakarta, and public minivans servicing the
Rawamangun-Kali Malang route, also in East Jakarta.

"We had arrested a former prisoner, Salam Siagian, who had
just completed his jail sentence in the Cipinang Penitentiary,
for a theft. He told us about his friend, Edy Busri, who had been
on the police wanted list since December," Tagam told The Jakarta
Post.

Tagam quoted Salam as saying that Edy would pretend to be a
passenger on certain buses.

"He would hold out a knife and threaten to stab the passenger
sitting beside him. After the theft, Edy ran," said Tagam.

Edy's group of five robbers would steal for cash, jewelry and
watches on buses between 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., he added.

Police, Tagam said, got hold of Edy in the Pondok Kopi area of
East Jakarta, and arrested him at approximately 4:30 p.m. on
Thursday.

"We were unaware that Edy has unbelievable strength. We
handcuffed him, but he broke the chain of the handcuffs by
pulling them apart and ended up wounding his hand. When he ran,
we shot him," Tagam said, showing the broken handcuffs.

Harry added that police were still searching for the remaining
seven suspects, who are reportedly hiding in the slum area of
Kampung Melayu. Tagam identified the suspects as Agun, Bapau,
Apung, Joy, Andri, Musa and Bandi.

The officer said the city police also arrested seven out of
nine suspected car thieves in February, one of whom, Agus Edo,
35, has been in the wanted list of East Java Police for placing
bombs on Christmas Eve in Mojokerto.

Agus was arrested on Feb. 12, Harry said. (ylt)