Relatives take bodies of alleged robbers by force

JAKARTA (JP): Relatives of two alleged taxi robbers who were shot and killed by police on Thursday have taken the two bodies by force from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital's morgue.

The family of one of the alleged criminals, Lundo Sitorus, 38, even refused a police request to perform an autopsy for a postmortem report.

Earlier in the day, the family of the other victim, Hatoguam Simangunsong, 40, had also taken his body from the morgue after it was partially examined by forensic doctors.

Dressed in black and mourning, Simangunsong's relatives, including his wife, packed the morgue in the morning hours and intended to take the body away for burial.

"We need the body for an immediate burial," said a relative.

Bambang Hadi Purwanto, a forensic assistant at the hospital, said the morgue finally let relatives take the two bodies after they signed statements saying they would be responsible for any complaints in the future.

"Their reason (for taking the bodies) is really unclear," Bambang said.

Central Jakarta Police officer Lt. Col. Ibrahim, who had ordered that the two bodies be examined as required by existing procedures, informed the hospital's forensic department in the evening that he canceled the autopsy.

Simangunsong and Sitorus were shot dead when they tried to hijack a Spirit taxi.

According to City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang, the two threatened the driver and a female passenger with a knife and sickle.

Aritonang said the police officers shot the two, who tried to run away but then turned around and attacked the officers.

According to forensic assistant Bambang, Simangunsong was shot in the head and right chest, while Sitorus in the back and right leg.

Simangunsong's wife refused to comment on her husband's death. Her two boys, two and four years old, were also present at the morgue. The younger refused to eat and remained silent on his mother's lap.

A family member, who asked for anonymity, said: "We have no comment except to think about the fate and future of these two young boys."

Simangunsong will be buried at the Menteng Pulo cemetery while Sitorus at his hometown in the North Sumatra capital of Medan. (05)