Sembiring's case not closed

Police are still investigating the murder of controversial ex-convict Johny Sembiring, 62, said City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto. Sembiring is alleged to have been killed by a rival in a gang conflict.

"The case is still open and we have found strong indications of the alleged role of a gang of debt collectors in the case. More evidence is needed to nab the suspects," Hindarto said Saturday.

In August, Sembiring and his driver Tumiran, 28, were kidnapped by a group of seven men in a van, shortly after Sembiring left his office in Central Jakarta.

Tumiran was released by the kidnappers the same evening in the Jonggol district, Bogor, while Sembiring was found dead the following day in the Cariu district, an area not far from Jonggol.

Sembiring's car was found burned out in the Tambun district, Bekasi.

Sembiring, a repeat offender, had opened a debt collecting agency in the Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta before he died.

Hindarto said he still believed in the theory that rival debt collectors killed Sembiring. (bsr)