Policemen fired over stray bullets
JAKARTA: The Police Disciplinary Board has recommended dismissal for two policemen due to negligence that led to the deaths of two girls and left another civilian injured in the Taman Sari area, West Jakarta last month.
"The recommendation was submitted to Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara. The chief's decision will be in accordance with the recommendation," said Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo.
The two policemen are Brig. Budi, who accidentally shot the three bystanders, and First Insp. Heru Julianto, the leader of the police team who at that time was pursuing suspected drug dealers.
Prasetyo earlier said that the team was responsible for the shooting as it failed to conduct a briefing prior to the operation.
"They must have a detailed briefing to decide their role in the operation, including how they will react in the worst-case scenario."
Stray bullets killed bystanders Ina Surtianah and three-and-a- half-year-old Eli and injured Eli's mother Mela Taskina, 28. -- JP
;JP;BBY; ANPAj..r.. Fokus-trial-witness Witness fails to identify suspect JP/8/G-CRIME
Witness fails to identify suspect
JAKARTA: A key witness in the bombing of the Philippine ambassador's residence in August 2000 failed to identify the main suspect Abdul Jabar as the perpetrator during a trial at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday.
Titin Supriyatin, a street sweeper on Jl. Imam Bonjol, Central Jakarta, was on duty in the morning of Aug. 1, 2000, when three men approached her and asked her to watch over their red Suzuki Carry minivan parked across the street in front of the ambassador's residence.
"I was standing in front of the General Elections Committee (KPU) office building when they came to me. One of them later walked down the street toward the Menteng area, while the other two left on a motorcycle. Minutes later, the car exploded," she said.
Prosecutor Suharto later asked Titin if one of the three was present in the courtroom. Titin first said no, but later she said the defendant "resembled one of them". Abdul Jabar was smiling when she made the deposition.
The bombing at the Philippine envoy's residence killed two housekeepers at the envoy's residence and injured then ambassador Leonides T. Caday and drivers Ebenbier Wonua and Sari Monang. Titin, who was 50 meters away from the scene, was also injured.
Presiding Judge Pramudana Kusumah adjourned the hearing on July 14 to hear witness Amrozi, the main suspect in the Bali bombing trial, who is also implicated in the case.-- JP
;JP;DMR; ANPAj..r.. Focus-Sanca-Mega-mall Five-meter python found at mall JP/8/Sanca
Five-meter python found at mall
JAKARTA: A five-meter Python reticulatus, locally known as a sanca, was found at Megamal Pluit, North Jakarta, on Monday.
The snake was found by a security guard at 7 a.m. inside the mall. The guard then contacted Penjaringan police station.
"As we are not familiar with handling snakes, we asked an animal tamer from Kapuk to help capture it," said First Insp. Sukardi from Penjaringan police station.
The snake was later taken to the police post after it had been placed in a sack.
Sukardi alleged that the snake had emerged from its nest in a swampy area of Pluit that had been transformed into residential and commercial estates.
The snake did not disrupt mall activities as it was captured immediately. -- JP