Police gun down alleged robber

JAKARTA (JP): A police officer shot dead an alleged robber and wounded another after chasing them along Jl. Raya Teluk Gong in North Jakarta yesterday morning.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the wounded suspect escaped before he could be arrested.

The dead man has been identified as Cecep Suhendra, 32, a blue-collar worker in Tangerang, West Java.

Aritonang said the arrest was made after the two suspects robbed a market vendor, Lie Khiun Chu, 42, on a public minivan.

"The two forced the female victim to give them her money. They pointed a knife and a machete at her and the driver."

Chu was the only passenger on the minivan at 6 a.m.

The two men jumped off the vehicle and the woman started screamed loudly for help, Aritonang said.

"They made off with Rp 100,000."

He said an on-duty police officer, whose name has been withheld, heard the woman's screams and chased the suspects.

The officer fired warning shots into the air and then aimed his gun at the two suspects when they failed to stop, the spokesman said.

The weapons and Rp 100,000 were seized but police are still looking for the victims' wounded accomplice, he said. (cst)