Police nab two in armed theft

JAKARTA (JP): Kebayoran Lama Police subprecinct officers have arrested two of four men who snatched a bag containing Rp 10.5 million (US$1,400) from a man on Jl. Pupan Pondok Pinang on Tuesday afternoon.

The South Jakarta Police chief of the violence and crime unit, First Lt. Sandi Nugroho, identified the victim as Sumarno, 50, who works as a treasurer at an Islamic elementary school in Pondok Pinang.

The suspects were identified as Yudhi and Sudiyono.

"One suspect followed Sumarno into the Fatmawati branch of Bank BNI, from where Sumarno withdrew the money. The suspect pretended to take a withdrawal slip, filled in the sum of Rp 400,000 and a fake account number before putting the slip into his pocket," Sandi told reporters.

"The money Sumarno took out was to pay the salaries of 13 school teachers and three employees at the school. There were four suspects on two motorcycles. When Sumarno screamed for help, a crowd formed and started to beat both Yudhi and Sudiyono up. The other two suspects got away."

Sandi and a Mobile Detective (Resmob) team confiscated a motorcycle with license plate B 3921 ZJ, and are on the lookout for the other two suspects.

Separately, a weak Sumarno told reporters at the Fatmawati Hospital in South Jakarta, that he had withdrawn the money from the BNI bank at about 11:55 a.m.

"I didn't notice anybody following me. After withdrawing the money, I took a KWK 03, a public transportation van which heads from Pondok Labu to Kebayoran Lama. I got off at the PGA bus stop in Pondok Pinang," Sumarno said.

"Just as I got out, someone pushed me hard and I fell down. When I got up, someone slashed my arm with a sharp machete and it cut the strap of the bag I was carrying. I fell and a man took the bag."

"I screamed. Just as the suspect was getting on his motorcycle, a hardtop jeep hit the motorcycle from behind. The jeep's driver got out, and joined the crowd in beating up the two guys on the motorcycle."

"The doctors had to first repair my torn muscles, then I got more stitches to close the wound ... I hope the police find the money." (ylt)