Police shoot and kill armed robber

JAKARTA (JP): Police shot and killed an armed robber late on Monday on Jl. Permata in the Makassar subdistrict of East Jakarta.

Ciracas Police chief Comr. Mahbub identified the robber as Sahala Manalu, alias Coki, a 22-year-old university student who resided in the Halim Perdana Kusuma Squadron housing complex in East Jakarta.

The officer said a team of police detectives patrolling Jl. Permata encountered Sahala holding up Surya Darma, a resident of the Cijantung Army housing complex.

According to Mahbub, Sahala threatened the victim with a knife and took his wallet. He added that the robbery occurred as the victim was waiting for a bus.

The police detectives gave chase to Sahala, who fled. One of the plainclothes officers then fired two warning shorts. When Sahala ignored the warning shots, the officers shot him twice in the back.

Sahala's body was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) morgue for an autopsy.

Sahala's mother, Tina Aritonang, said at the morgue that she was told by police officers early on Tuesday that her son was taken to the RSCM emergency room after suffering an accident.

"When I arrived at the hospital, I found that my son had died. I cannot accept this" she told The Jakarta Post, adding that Sahala was studying civil engineering at the Indonesian Christian University.

She said her son was stubborn and disobedient and his father, B Manalu, frequently pleaded with him to act responsibly.

"Fed up with Sahala's behavior, his father once cursed Sahala and said he would die in the street," she said.

Sahala's parents were dumbfounded when a young woman came to the morgue with her two-month-old baby and claimed she was Sahala's wife.

"I am Sahala's wife. I was told this morning that Sahala died in an accident," the woman told Sahala's parents, who said their son was not married. (01)