Prabowo denies knowing robbers

JAKARTA (JP): The commander of the Army's special force (Kopassus), Maj. Gen. Prabowo Subiyanto denied yesterday the involvement of any of his subordinates in various crimes.

Speaking to reporters, Prabowo, President Soeharto's son-in- law, said there was no sign that members of Kopassus were involved in the fatal robbery on the Jagorawi toll road last October.

"There has been no indication that members of Kopassus were involved in the deadly robbery," Prabowo said after paying tribute at the Heroes Cemetery to those killed in the Lengkong battle in Tangerang in 1946.

The robbery, which claimed the life of private firm employee Zaenuddin Lesmana, was allegedly committed by three men. A bullet shell from an Army-issue weapon was found at the scene.

The robbers, who made off with hundreds of millions of rupiah, allegedly used an FN 45 gun to shoot Zaenuddin.

The robbery made headlines after one of the key witnesses, Tjetje Tadjuddin, died in Bogor police custody only 10 days after the robbery. A police officer who was blamed for the death was sacked.

Prabowo also denied rumors that he knew Hercules, a notorious hoodlum operating in Tanah Abang market, Central Jakarta.

"I've never heard of Hercules. I don't know who he is. I don't know how he claimed to have any relationship with Kopassus and know me," Prabowo said. "Any hoodlums or criminals who disturb security deserve punishment."

Many people believe that hoodlums in the capital have established relations with the Armed Forces.

After a recent fierce gang war in Tanah Abang early this month, a hoodlum told The Jakarta Post that his gang had a relationship with Kopassus and that Prabowo knew Hercules personally.

The gang war was between Hercules' men and their arch rivals. (sur)