Police arrest suspected gang members

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The Deli Serdang Police said on Wednesday they had arrested six men suspected of being members of two armed robbery gangs operating on Sumatra island.

The suspects had long been wanted by police in Sumatra. They were identified as Hermansyah, 29, Sutarmin, 28, Basuki, alias Marno, 34, Ramli, 32, M. Nazar and Iskandar, 38, who is believed to be the mastermind.

Deli Serdang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Mahfud Arifin said his officers were looking for two other suspects, identified as Sam and Sofyan.

"We know that the groups operate in different places and would not hesitate to harm their victims if they resisted," Mahfud told The Jakarta Post.

Ramli, one of the suspects, said his gang had been operating for a year now and has stolen between Rp 500 million (US$60,000) and Rp 700 million.

"We usually rob trucks carrying cigarettes and drinks. We usually threaten the drivers with a pistol and then break off the padlocks with a crowbar," he said. --JP