Police shoot robbery suspect

JAKARTA (JP): A man accused of robbing a bus passenger was shot dead at the Grogol bus terminal in West Jakarta early yesterday morning.

The victim, identified as Rusliandi Siregar of Jembatan Besi, was arrested by police while he and an accomplice were attempting to get off a bus on Jl. Susilo, the head of the Tanjung Duren Subprecinct, First Lt. Bambang Heru, said.

The two men had stolen a gold ring, necklace and bracelet and a wristwatch from a female passenger.

Rusliandi's alleged accomplice, identified as Ucok, fled.

The officers took Rusliandi to Grogol bus terminal to help them find Ucok. But Rusliandi attacked the accompanying officers and tried to flee. He was shot in the back after he ignored a warning shot, Bambang said.

Police records showed that Rusliandi was a former convict, he added.

Rusliandi's body was later taken to the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for an autopsy.

The previous day police shot dead an alleged motorcycle thief in the Bukit Duri district in South Jakarta.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the man, Syaiful Bahri, had tried to attack the arresting police officer.

"He tried to stab the officer with a screwdriver. The officer avoided him and fired warning shots. But he kept attacking the officer. So the officer shot him in the chest," he said.

Syaiful died on the way to hospital, he added.

Syaiful had been on the police's wanted list for a series of motorcycle thefts in Jakarta, Aritonang said. He was believed to be part of a syndicate that had been stealing motorcycles in Jakarta and selling them in Sukabumi and Rangkas Bitung, West Java.

"Officers have been looking for Syaiful and his accomplices for some time. We have identified Syaiful's accomplices," Aritonang said.

Police had seized motorcycles sold in Rangkas Bitung and Sukabumi which matched the specifications of the stolen motorcycles, he said.

Syaiful's arrest followed a phone call from a resident in Tebet Barat, South Jakarta, in the early hours of Thursday who said someone was trying to steal his motorcycle.

Aritonang praised the motorcycle owner's decision to call the police immediately rather than trying to stop the thief himself. (cst/O4)