Repeat con shot to death

BOGOR (JP): An alleged long-time crook named Maksum, 40, died in a police raid when he was shot in the legs eight times early on Monday, Bogor Police chief Col. Edi Darnadi said.

Maksum and six of his friends were alleged gang robbers who specialized in ransacking houses of wealthy officials and executives, Edi told reporters on Monday.

"The gang has been on a police wanted list for quite some time," the officer said.

According to Edi, Maksum was located at his remote house in Kampung Nengah at Cimande village of Cirangin district in Bogor.

"Maksum tried to escape and he attacked the officers with a sickle," Edi said, adding that police had been stalking the house for four days prior to the attempted arrest.

A few days before the arrest, dozens of Caringin locals went to Edi's office and asked the police to put an end to the armed gang as people were tired of them, he said.

Larceny recorded by the police includes the robbery at the house of police Brig. Gen. Ismail in Cijeruk village in September last year, in which the gang made away with two cars, a Toyota Land Cruiser jeep and a Daihatsu Taruna van, US$2,700 in cash and gold and jewelry worth a total of Rp 1 billion. (21/edt)