Repeat offender shot dead

Police shot dead a hardcore repeat offender while he was trying to flee when police asked him to reveal the hideout of his accomplices in East Jakarta Wednesday morning.

Maj. Tasmin, a spokesman for the city police, told reporters yesterday the deceased, identified as Eben Rihot Siagian, alias Barus, 28, a resident of Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta, was shot dead at 2.30 a.m. in Kampung Sumur, Jatinegara subdistrict, Cakung, East Jakarta.

The man, whose body was reportedly full of tattoos with the image of dragons and bats, was captured recently following a robbery case at the house of a high-ranking government official in East Jakarta.

Tasmin said Barus told police he had robbed the house along with several accomplices.

In a bid to arrest the rest of the gang members, police then took Barus to locate the hideout of his accomplices.

When approaching his accomplices' hideout, Barus suddenly ran away and paid no heed when police fire three warning shots.

Police shot him in the leg, then in the back and head when he continued to run.

Barus died instantly and was taken to the morgue of the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for a postmortem examination. (jsk)