Robbers steal RP 40 million from bank customer

JAKARTA (JP): Two unidentified men stole a handbag from a woman who had just withdrawn Rp 40 million (US$17.02) from a bank.

The robbery took place yesterday in front of the victim's home in South Jakarta on Jl. Bulungan.

Chief detective of the Kebayoran Baru police subprecinct, Second Lt. Andi Kirnanda said the two armed men were believed to have followed the victim, Betty Amka Soedjiwo, from a branch of Bank BNI on Jl. Gatot Subroto, in Central Jakarta where she withdrew the money.

"The two men are still at large," officer Andi told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Betty's driver, Junaedy, said he did not realize that they were being followed until a motorcycle stopped behind their car.

He said one of the men quickly approached the 66-year-old woman as she was just getting out of the car. Betty, the wife of a retired general, shouted for help when the man grabbed her handbag.

Betty's gardener, Suhadi, tried to help his employer, but the other man fired a gun into the air, he added.

They then escaped the scene on a motorcycle.

People in the area just stared as the robbers left. The house is located in a crowded area in front of the Bulungan sport building and the state-run senior high school SMU 70.

Some students who just came out from their school panicked when they heard the shot.

On Tuesday, two armed men robbed Rp 166 million from an employee in front of his office on Jl. Warung Buncit, also in South Jakarta.

Indra, an employee of Buncit Jaya Motor, had just cashed a check at a local branch of Bank Central Asia when he was threatened with a machete by one of the robbers. People were afraid to help, as the other man fired a gun into the air. The robbers are also still at large. (jun)