Serviceman arrested for Tangerang robbery

Serviceman arrested for Tangerang robbery

JAKARTA (JP): Tangerang police yesterday morning arrested two more suspects, including a serviceman, for their alleged role in last week's robbery of over Rp 200 million (about US$86,000), bringing the number of people in custody for the offense to six.

Chief of the Tangerang police chief, Lt. Col. R. Hari Setiabudhi, said that the arrest of the two suspects were made following tips from the four who were arrested a day earlier.

The money was the payroll of a garment factory in Tangerang. One of the six suspects was a security guard of the firm.

The six were charged with plotting last Tuesday's robbery which took place only a few meters from the toll exit gate at Balaraja Timur, about 35 kilometers west of here.

According to Setyabudhi, the gang members stole Rp 206,270,150. However, police recovered only Rp 75 million. Most of the money had allegedly been used by the suspects.

Police also seized a minibus believed to have been the getaway car.

The six suspects have been identified as Corporal Hutagalung from the Cikupa Air Defense Artillery Detachment and his civilian companions: Sahat Silabat, Buha Sihombing, A. Rahman Sinaga, Siregar and Timbang Simbolon.

Sinaga, the security guard, played an important role in the robbery, police said. He allegedly cooperated with the others when arranging the robbery, police said.

Before arresting Sinaga, police discovered he had been in a strange position when the robbery was reported. (bsr)