Police foil holdup, robber shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): Police shot dead a repeat offender on Wednesday as he attempted to rob a private employee of Rp 75 million (US$8,330) outside a money changer on Jl. Gunung Sahari, Central Jakarta.

City police detectives chief Col. Gories Mere said Andri Mokodompit, 35, was shot twice in the chest while trying to resist arrest.

According to Gories, Andri and an accomplice were spotted by two on-duty patrol officers at midday when trying to grab the cash from Pepen Supendi, who was about to change the money into U.S. dollars.

The officers saw the men shoot Pepen in the thigh in their attempt to overcome him.

The officers shot Andri but failed to halt the other assailant, Gories said. The man escaped on a motorbike.

Andri fell to the ground with two bullet wounds in his chest.

Police found a FN-type gun and a fake identification card for the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) on his person.

"We later learned the suspect was also involved in some armed robberies and other crimes here," Gories said.

"Andri, for instance, killed a convicted man in the Cipinang prison 18 years ago." (jun)