Police shoot side mirror thief

JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested two men and shot one of them for reportedly stealing the side mirrors of a Mercedes sedan at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday.

The suspects, identified as Hasanudin and Johan Makmur, were seen approaching the black sedan at about 11 a.m. when the traffic was congested as a result of a rally by dozens of people demanding the resignation of President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Using steel plates, Johan broke off the left mirror and Hasanudin took the right mirror while the sedan was trapped in the congestion.

The car driver, Amalan, 30, who works for PT Primadana Futura Center, shouted for help and honked the car horn repeatedly as the suspects made an escape. No motorists responded to Amalan's shout.

Two police officers, Sec. Insp. Pius Monggeng and First. Brig. Asep Sudarna, who were in the area, quickly chased the suspects.

Officer Pius fired two warning shots and then shot Johan in the left leg after the suspects refused to surrender. Upon seeing Johan downed, Hasanudin gave up.

The arrest interrupted the rally for a while until the suspects, both in their 30s, were taken to city police headquarters. (jun)