Police puzzled by reward offer in painting theft
JAKARTA (JP): The Cilandak Police in South Jakarta have decided to review their investigation into a robbery at a residence on Jl. Anggur following the appearance of a Rp 100 million reward advertisement for a painting stolen in a New Year's Eve burglary.
Head of the precinct Maj. Nurhayati said on Friday that she and her men had begun to review all the evidence and each piece of information gathered from the scene and witnesses at the time as part of their efforts to retrace the crime.
"We need to learn why they suddenly advertised that a valuable painting had been stolen in the robbery, whereas we thought it was just an ordinary painting," Nurhayati told The Jakarta Post.
According to the policewoman, she recently sent a letter to the owner of the house, Nindia, to come to the Cilandak police subprecinct office for further questioning about the missing painting as described in the advertisement which appeared several times in some leading newspapers, including the Post, Kompas and Suara Pembaruan.
"But Nindia has not yet responded to our summons. And that was a few days ago.
"We'll write another letter to Nindia soon as we want to know the details of the painting, such as its title and size and the reason why she placed such a eye-catching advertisement. We need accurate data to further trace what the advertisement calls an expensive painting," Nurhayati said.
In the advertisement, PT Indonesia Megah announces a reward of Rp 100 million (US$13,700) to be awarded to the first person who can provide information leading to the recovery of the painting.
A black-and-white copy of the painting appears in the advertisement, which the advertiser believes was painted by the late Indonesian master Affandi.
The reward is about the same price as many of Affandi's masterpieces.
The advertiser also stated in the ad that the painting measured 166 centimeters by 124 centimeters.
Nindia could not be reached for comment. A woman at the house on Jl. III/30 (as stated in the ad) said on Wednesday that Nindia did not live at the house.
A man who picked up the phone at the office of PT Indonesia Megah refused to make any comments on the case.
"Please do not write about the case. Otherwise, we and the police will not be able to find the whereabouts of the thieves," the man, who refused to be named, told the Post on Monday.
"The advertisement is already enough."
He gave no specific reason for his argument.
Like many, including painting curators, officer Nurhayati found something mysterious or secret behind the case since both the owner and advertiser had kept silent.
"Let's see later," she said. (bsr)