Police shoot dead snatcher

JAKARTA (JP): Police shot dead a man on Saturday night for resisting arrest after he allegedly snatched jewelry from a woman at Pulogadung bus terminal in East Jakarta.

Adolf Bastian Sitinjak, 22, was shot at about 11 p.m, an officer of the Pulogadung police subprecinct said on Sunday.

"A police officer was forced to shoot the suspect since he tried to escape despite the warning shots," the officer who asked for anonymity said.

He said the suspect snatched a gold necklace from the woman who had just arrived at the terminal.

Her screams alerted a police officer on routine patrol.

He chased the suspect and arrested him. However, Adolf tried to stab the officer with a sickle during the journey to the police station, the source said.

Adolf, a resident of Jl. Penggilingan in Cakung, East Jakarta, was shot in his head and back, he said.

His body remained at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital's morgue on Sunday afternoon.

Several men claiming to be Adolf's friends visited the morgue on Sunday but would not comment.

Their request to claim the body was denied by morgue officials.

"Only Adolf's relatives can give permission for the postmortem examination on the body and then take the body home," Safi'ie, one of the officers, said.

At least 12 criminals have been shot dead this month as police attempt to crack down on the soaring robbery rate on the city's streets, including toll roads and junctions. (jun)