Robbers kill soldier, flee with Rp 230 million

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

A gang of robbers shot dead a military soldier and made off with Rp 230 million (US$27,058) in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday, police and eyewitnesses said.

The robbers, riding on two motorcycles, also shot Suprapto, the 32-year-old driver of the car that was carrying the payroll of rubber company PT Mega Rubber, which is based in Salatiga, Central Java.

Suprapto is in critical condition and is being treated at the Elisabeth Hospital in Semarang. He was shot in the head and right arm.

The deceased soldier was identified as First Corp. Subagio, 36, a member of the Ungaran Military Command in Semarang.

Eyewitnesses said Subagio approached Suprapto's car after it crashed into a canal during the robbery.

As he neared the vehicle, the robbers shot him in the chest and arm. The soldier died several hours later at a hospital in Ungaran.

The crime took place at about 10 a.m. on Jl. Jendral Sudirman, when the robbers approached Suprapto's car and fired several shots through the windshield, eyewitness Iwan said.

"The car slammed into a canal and I saw the robbers grab a black bag from inside the car. Then they fled toward Salatiga," he said.

He said the shots hit the driver, but a security guard and two employees of PT Mega Rubber, who were also in the vehicle, were unharmed, he said.

The vehicle was traveling from Semarang to Salatiga.

Another eyewitness, Catur, said he threw stones at the robbers, hitting one in the helmet. "The robber then shot at me but missed. The bullet hit the wall of a nearby food stall."

Salatiga Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Wanto Sumardi said the robbers made off with Rp 230 million that was meant to pay the salaries of PT Mega Rubber's workers.

"They fled toward Salatiga and then took smaller roads in another direction," he said.

Wanto said officers were searching for the robbers.

A similar robbery took place in early August in Semarang, when robbers shot dead a garment businessman and made off with Rp 250 million.

In July, robbers killed a security guard in Surakarta, Central Java, and fled with Rp 369 million belonging to the local tap water company.

In late August, Central Java Police broke up a gang of at least 13 robbers allegedly led by Yanto Arek. Officers arrested 11 members of the gang and shot and killed two others who attempted to avoid arrest.

The 11 have confessed to at least 39 robberies in 30 cities and towns across Java. Yanto is still being interrogated by police.