Police arrest 38 suspects, in 12 days crackdown operation

Evi Mariani, Jakarta

In a 12-day operation, the Jakarta Police managed to arrest 38 suspects from several robberies, in which the criminals stole at least Rp 5.8 billion (US$651,685) in cash and 54 kilograms (kg) of gold jewelry.

"From the 38 detained suspects, 24 are our most-wanted suspects and top our manhunt list," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo told a media conference on Thursday.

The operation ran from April 29 through May 9.

As of today, the police are still searching for 56 suspects, who are still at large.

The police seized 17 pistols, three machetes, a sickle, hundreds of bullets, motorcycles and two luxury wristwatches from the suspects.

Police said that some of the suspects were the second generation of a notorious gang led by a criminal known as Peyek, who died in 2001. They were identified as Subandi and Sugito, who were arrested in Depok, and Suwito and Tomi Samuji, who were apprehended in Surabaya.

Peyek was the gang leader most wanted by the police since the late 1990s because his gang killed at least four detectives and seven civilians.

He was known to be a slick criminal. When the police eventually arrested him in late 2001 at his house in Bogor, the detectives found several books on intelligence activities in his house.

"From statements made by four of Peyek's former accomplices, they targeted only gold jewelry traders or bank customers who had just withdrawn cash," Prasetyo said.

The suspects claimed they had committed 33 robberies, 30 of which took place in various locations in Jakarta, with three in West Java and East Java. They managed to steal Rp 2.2 billion and 54 kg of gold jewelry.

Members of another syndicate led by Ranto Sitorus also admitted to the police that they had broken into houses since 1998 and stolen Rp 3.6 billion.

"We also arrested robbers targeting motorcycles who usually committed their crimes on the street," city police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said.

He then picked up a Colt gun, which had been confiscated during the operation, and said that it was used by a robber who had been involved in a gunfight with his detectives before he was arrested.

"Fortunately, my detectives did not get hurt," he said.

Police data from January to April showed that an average of 10 to 12 robberies targeting motorcycles per month took place on the streets of Jakarta. In most cases the criminals used guns, while others used sharp weapons.