Robber shot woman on the palm

TANGERANG (JP): Police detectives here are still trying to find two men, one of whom shot his female victim in the hand on Tuesday afternoon after the latter refused to hand over her purse containing, among other things, a cellular phone and Rp 1 million cash.

Serpong Police subprecinct chief First Lt. Hasbullah told reporters on Wednesday that the midday robbery took place in front of the victim's house at Taman Giri Loka of the vast Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) estate.

The two unidentified robbers, riding on a Yamaha RX King motorcycle, managed to leave the scene with the purse of Sumaryati Sudjono, 35, in their possession, the officer said.

The victim was returning home after visiting the nearby BSD shopping plaza for a haircut along with her friend, Tina, when one of the robbers attempted to grab her purse shortly after she got out her Daihatsu Tarunda jeep.

"Tina, Sumaryati's domestic helper Simin, 25, and next-door neighbor Lise, who all witnessed the incident could do nothing after hearing the gunshot but screamed for help," Hasbullah said.

The two sped off in the direction of the BSD-Pondok Aren toll road.

Neighbors, who rushed to the scene, lost trace of the robbers. Some of them immediately took the wounded Sumaryati to the nearby Bintaro International Hospital for medical treatment.

"A bullet shell from the crime scene is being examined to find out the type of the gun," officer Hasbullah said.

Based on preliminary findings, Sumaryati was said to have just collected the Rp 1 million cash from a BCA bank branch office very near to the BSD Plaza.

Separately, Sumaryati's husband Aspan, 44, asked the BSD management to increase security at the complex to prevent similar incidents.(41/08)