Prabowo denies knowing robbers

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)