Police detain one in armed robbery

JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives for violent crime (Jatanras) are hunting three men in connection with a Rp 10 million (US$1,000) armed robbery in the parking lot of Gambir railway station, Central Jakarta on Friday afternoon.

Jatanras chief Adj. Comr. Tagam Sinaga said police would use another suspect, who was captured by local residents shortly after the robbery, to lead them to his friends.

The gang of four stole the cash while its owner, identified as 36-year-old businessman Agus Wibowo, was queuing for a ticket.

In his dossier, Agus said he had withdrawn Rp 12 million from the Fatmawati office of Bank BNI in South Jakarta at about 11 a.m.

He said he thought his car, a brown Mercedes 200 sedan, was followed by a dark blue Kijang van en route to the station. Agus was accompanied by his friend, Koen Haryono.

While lining up in front of the ticket booth, he suddenly heard gun shots, and saw four people firing at his car and in the air.

There were no fatalities in the robbery, but Rp 10 million in cash, which Agus kept under his car seat, was gone. His car's windows were all shattered and one side of the car was badly dented.

One of the gang members failed to jump into the Kijang van and was beaten up by people near the railway station. (ylt)