Police fear Triad involvement in the murder of Beng Sen
Police fear Triad involvement in the murder of Beng Sen
JAKARTA (JP): Police are focusing their investigation on two local members of a Hong Kong-based triad in the gangland slaying of Nyo Beng Seng last month.
Speaking to reporters here yesterday, City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto refused to identify the two, but claimed that they are both of Chinese descent.
"Based on our latest investigation and all available evidence, we now have strong reason to focus our investigation on the two men," he said.
All evidence indicates that the two knew about the murder and might be directly involved in the killing, the two-star general said.
Beng Seng was well-known for arranging gambling trips overseas. Hindarto said evidence indicates that the two men are members of one of Hong Kong's triads.
"We have learned that this gang is going to launch its operations in this country," Hindarto said. "But, we'll nip them in the bud," he added somewhat optimistically.
Triads are involved in many illegal activities, including gambling, prostitution, drugs and extortion.
"In connection with the death of Beng Seng, we all must be on the alert to the presence of triad members in the country," Hindarto reminded.
Searching
He, however, declined to comment on whether the two suspects are still in the country.
He only said that his personnel will be backed up by several members of the National Police Headquarters in efforts to capture the two thugs.
Beng Seng, alias Darmansyah Suyadi, 57, was stabbed at 2 a.m. on April 15 by four or more masked men in front of his second wife's stately mansion on Jl. Pluit Kencana Raya in North Jakarta.
The killing was believed to have been planned by a competitor in the gambling business.
Beng Seng's second wife told the police that on the way to the hospital, her husband mentioned two names, Hong Lie and A. Lay, as being accomplices of his assailants.
Hong Lie is believed to have been a main competitor of Beng Seng in the business of arranging Indonesian gambling junkets to places such as the Portuguese colony of Macau, the Genting Highlands in Malaysia, Perth in Australia and Hong Kong.
A. Lay is believed to have been Hong Lie's right-hand man, but lately has started branching out on his own.
Besides being widely known as a junket organizer and owner of the Irama Tara cassette and video recording firm, Beng Seng, an Indonesian of Chinese origin who grew up in Medan, North Sumatra, also owned a number of nightclubs, massage parlors and beauty salons. Many of his business activities are located in the Kota area. (bsr)