Policeman shot dead in Solo robbery
Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta, Central Java
In the latest string of violent robberies, Surakarta was hit by an armed bank raid on Monday that left a police officer dead.
The robbers also injured two security guards during their raid on the Bukopin Bank branch in the Goro Assalam shopping center in Pebelan at around 4:30 p.m.
It was not confirmed exactly how much money the raiders got away with. However, local police quoted bank executives as saying that some Rp 500 million (US$58,139) had been taken.
The police said the money was being brought from a subbranch to the Goro Assalam branch.
The robbery started as Bukopin Bank security guard Ahmad Fathoni pushed a trolley carrying three boxes of cash into the lobby of the shopping center.
Suddenly, a number of armed men appeared carrying guns. They opened fire without warning, killing Adj. Brig. Khomeidi, 40, an officer of the Surakarta Police attached to the Serengan police precinct, who was escorting Fathoni.
Fathoni said the raider also shot him in the left leg, and then started firing indiscriminately, forcing visitors to the shopping center to flee.
Goro Assalam security guard Luthfi Hasibuan was also wounded during the incident.
Meanwhile, energy drink vendor Erni had a harrowing experience: "I was serving customers and suddenly heard several loud noises like firecrackers. I was then tied up, and saw them kill the policeman right in front of my stall."
Although witnesses saw only three armed men, the police said the gang comprised more than four raiders.
Sukoharjo Police chief Comr. Marsito said he believed that the raiders were highly skilled and had good knowledge of their targets.
"I'm confident the raiders have been observing how money is transferred between Bukopin Bank branches in Surakarta for a long time," he told The Jakarta Post.
He said the police had clues as to the identities of the raiders in the form of a Yamaha Force One motorcycle and a Kijang van that were used by them.
The robbery was the latest in a number of major crimes in Surakarta since May last year that involved the use of firearms.
On Aug. 1, 2003, four armed robbers shot and killed the driver of a car carrying executives of local water utility PDAM before making off with Rp 669 million.
Another robbery targeted the offices of a cooperative on Jl. Juanda, Surakarta, with the thieves making off with at least Rp 214 million. Three security guards were shot during this raid.
Central Java Police shot and killed three suspected bank robbers here on Aug. 13, 2003, as officers broke up what they called a "cold-blooded gang" that could have ties to terrorism.
Another 10 men were also arrested, all suspected members of the gang.