Police shoot dead alleged shrimp looter in Tangerang

JAKARTA (JP): Police shot dead an alleged shrimp looter and arrested two others early Saturday at a shrimp pond in Tangerang.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said Saturday that police were forced to shoot Suwardi, 35, after he resisted arrest at the shrimp farm in Tanjung Anom village in Mauk district.

"Suwardi was shot in the chest when he attacked an officer with a sickle. Two police officers who confronted him fired six warning shots, but he ignored them."

The two other suspects, identified as Surya, 46, and Tagwid, 40, were captured when they tried to escape with about 25 kilograms of shrimps, he added.

Newly installed chief of the Tangerang Police Precinct, Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto Iskandar, told The Jakarta Post Saturday that police were still searching for another suspect in the case, but declined to elaborate.

In contradiction to Aritonang's statement, Pudji said the men were caught with about eight kgs of shrimp, and he mentioned the name of the third suspect in detention as Pakut, not Tagwid.

Tagwid, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the crime, lived in nearby Kronjo village, Aritonang said, while Suwardi and Surya came from Brebes, Central Java.

"The four-member gang was believed to have entered the shrimp pond owned by PT Wira Dua Mustika Indah from the open beach with a wooden boat. Then they broke the bamboo gate and got into the pond," Aritonang said.

While they were netting the shrimp, they were spotted by three shrimp pond attendants, Hendrik, Agus and Jaripan.

"The attendants were terrified because they thought there must be a lot of looters, as they heard about in recent shrimp-looting incidents.

"The three then reported the theft to the Mauk Police Subprecinct, and police raided the place," Aritonang said.

Police confiscated the boat, fishing net, a sickle and the shrimps wrapped in plastic bags.

The two suspects are in detention at Tangerang Police Precinct pending further investigation.

Meanwhile, H. Alimin, a representative of local residents living in villages nearby the ponds, expressed concerned Saturday over the death of Suwardi.

Alimin said that the looting spree in the area was caused due to the fact shrimp-pond owners broke an agreement with local residents that they would be given about 0.5 percent of total harvests.

The residents looted the ponds because they had not received any shrimp, he added.

Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman, speaking to media Saturday after the Jakarta security forces parade at Senayan Eastern Parking Lot, Central Jakarta, said police had made the right decision.

"In the Tangerang case, a looter was shot dead because he resisted the arrest. What we are supposed to do then? He even blindly attacked the officer.

"Should we keep quiet and give our throats to be slashed? Of course not. Reports said many looters ignored and even mocked warnings from the officers. This is wrong."

Noegroho added looters should be prepared to pay for their lawless actions.

"As looting is wrong, they have to live with the consequences. We will continue taking stern action."

On July 13, about 1.5 tons of shrimps were stolen from ponds in the area by about 2,000 people. It caused an estimated Rp 180 million in losses.

National Police chief Lt. Gen. Roesmanhadi revealed earlier he had ordered his officers to take firm action and shoot the looters with live ammunition if necessary. (edt/41)