Seven arrested for series of burglaries at opulent houses

JAKARTA (JP): Seven men believed to have committed a series of burglaries of opulent houses in Central and West Jakarta and Central Java have been arrested, police announced yesterday.

An FN-type toy gun, two machetes and four swords believed to have been used by the suspects in the robberies were also confiscated.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said that the suspects, identified as Arnold, Lipis, Bahara, Sibarani, Rudi Simatupang, Gordon Sihotang alias Odong and Gunawan alias Wawan might have collected billions of rupiah in their operations.

"As a result of our preliminary investigations we believe that they have stolen a total of Rp 600 million (US$255,000). But, we have not finished interrogating them. They might have stolen more," Abubakar told reporters yesterday.

Gordon Sihotang and Gunawan, a father of two children, were apprehended at Gunawan's house on Jl. Rawamangun, East Jakarta on Aug. 25, he said.

He said that the police then focused their investigation on the other five suspects following information from Sihotang and Gunawan.

As a result of this a special team was set up to hunt the five in Central Java, Abubakar said

In cooperation with Central Java police officers, it apprehended Arnold, Lipis and Bahara on Aug. 31 in Semarang, Central Java after the three men robbed a house of jewelry and a sum of money.

Sibarani and Rudi Simatupang were arrested at their hiding place in Kendal, Central Java, also on Aug. 31, he added.

"They are all ex-convicts, who have served jail terms for similar crimes," Abubakar said.

During preliminary interrogation, the seven men admitted to robbing a house on Jl. Karang, Central Jakarta, in June belonging to businessman Sak Gun Cui. They made off with cash and goods worth Rp 60 million.

The suspects also admitted to breaking into a house on Jl. Kesehatan, Central Jakarta and making off with cash and jewelry worth around Rp 150 million in June.

Also in June, the men stole money and jewelry worth Rp 100 million from a house on Jl. Jelambar Barat, West Jakarta.

Quoting the suspects, Abubakar said that another robbery was also committed in July. They made off with cash and valuables worth Rp 50 million from a house of a businesswoman, Ratna Sari, on Jl. Cideng, Central Jakarta, in July.

They also burgled the house of a businessman, identified as Fan Ten Hui, on Jl. Mangga Besar, Central Jakarta of a sum of money and goods worth around Rp 100 million.

All the houses were vacant when the robberies took place, Abubakar said.

Abubakar called on people to be more careful when leaving their house vacant. "It would be better for them not to let their houses remain empty without any people or security guards around," he said. (jun)