Police shoot dead three men caught extorting money
JAKARTA (JP): Three men were shot dead after allegedly being caught red-handed extorting money from a motorist at the Cawang interchange in East Jakarta late Tuesday night and another was lynched by angry residents for reportedly attempting to rob a taxi driver in Cilincing, North Jakarta.
Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said on Wednesday that the officers were forced to shoot the three men because they resisted arrest and had tried to attack the officers.
The three were identified as Erwin Purba, 32, Manahan Purba, 27, and Ronny Situmorang, 23.
"The officers fired warning shots, but the men ignored them and even turned on the officers, brandishing sharp weapons," Noegroho said.
He explained that the three were spotted by plainclothes officers pointing weapons at a Kijang van driver, identified as Kouw Thomas Yonathan, at a traffic light at around 10 p.m.
"Instead of responding to the warning shots, the three forced the driver to open the door of his car," Noegroho said, adding that the crooks died of shots to their backs and thighs.
From the three, police confiscated one sickle, two knives and Kouw's wallet containing Rp 210,000 (US$23.30).
A source close to the investigation said it was believed the three were members of a gang who dominated the Cawang area.
"They specialized in extorting money from motorists as well as robbing them. The group has committed a series of crimes in the area," he said, adding that they usually spent their time at a nearby bus stop and at food stalls in front of the Indonesian Christian University (UKI).
An hour later, residents of Bidara area in Cilincing, North Jakarta, mobbed a man to death and wounded his accomplice. They were allegedly attempting to rob a Kosti taxi driver.
The chief of the North Jakarta Police detective unit, Maj. Heru Winarko, said the incident started when the two unidentified men flagged down the taxi driven by Sakim, 41, a resident of Sunter in North Jakarta, in the Kramat Tunggak red-light district.
"They asked the driver to take them to Marunda. But when they reached Bidara area, one of them (both sat in the back of the taxi) suddenly stabbed the victim with a small knife," Heru said.
Sarkim screamed and jumped out of his car, thereby alerting nearby residents who then flocked to the scene and chased the two culprits.
Sarkim is in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta being treated for chest and hand wounds, while the wounded suspect was rushed to Soekanto Police Hospital in East Jakarta.
Separately in Bogor, the police are in the process of hunting down a serviceman of the Infantry Battalion for allegedly stealing a rented Kijang van on late Tuesday night.
Bogor Police chief Lt. Col. Ade Husen said the serviceman, identified as First Lt. Purwoko, tried to steal the car he rented for Rp 150,000 from Bogor resident Ujang, 40.
"Purwoko hired Ujang and his van to take him and a female friend, Imas, and her four-year-old son to Bandung," Ade said.
However, when the four reached the Gunung Mas tea plantation in Cibeureum, the suspect told Ujang to stop the car and ordered him to buy a pack of cigarette.
"Shortly after Ujang got out of the car, the suspect took the wheel and sped off," he said.
According to Ade, before reporting to the police, Ujang tried to chase Purwoko on an ojek (motorcycle taxi) but failed.
"Police officers in the Puncak area were alerted that the suspect took a U-turn and headed back toward Bogor," he said.
Police in Cisarua had been alerted and tried to stop Purwoko. They fired warning shots but he drove straight past them.
"We had no choice but to shoot at the car. The car did stop but the suspect managed to flee, leaving his girlfriend and her son inside," he said.
Imas, who claimed to own two hotels and a plastic factory in Bandung, and her son were then taken to a nearby police station for questioning.
In the preliminary questioning, Imas said that she had only known Purwoko for seven months. (emf/41)