Robbery suspect killed in shootout

JAKARTA: A suspected motorcycle thief, Suhanda, 35, was killed in a shootout with police detectives in Pamulang, Tangerang, on Sunday.

"He died from a gunshot wound in the chest on the way to the Soekanto Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Monday.

Suhanda was arrested on Saturday at his house in Banten for an alleged motorcycle robbery on Aug. 23, in which he killed the owner, Eko Sriyanto, 24, in front of Eko's wife.

The police later went with him to a vacant field in Pondok Benda, Pamulang, where Suhanda said he had hid several stolen motorcycles. Police said that Suhanda tried to run away from the two police officers and ran into some bushes where he had apparently hidden a pistol.

Tjiptono said the suspect fired at the detectives but he missed. Second Insp. Suprijanto returned fire at Suhanda, hitting in his chest. -- JP