Singaporean fugitive arrested

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Obviously not learning from past mistakes, Singaporean Tang Kheng Seng, 32, alias Jeremy, was arrested again on Tuesday evening while trying to steal from lockers in a spa facility of a hotel in Bali, the same crime that the fugitive was earlier arrested for in Jakarta.

City Police chief Insp. Firman Gani said the suspect was expected to arrive in Jakarta in the afternoon.

"The suspect will be charged with two crimes ... the last theft case will be added the first. The case file will be ready to be submitted to prosecutors in a week," he said on Wednesday.

He dismissed possibility that Jeremy had psychological problems that may had driven him to steal other peoples' belongings.

Jeremy was charged under Article 363 of the Criminal Code on theft, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.

Jeremy was arrested on Dec. 7 last year following a police investigation over the loss of valuables kept in lockers of gymnasiums, fitness centers, and spa facilities in several five- star hotels in Jakarta.

While in police detention, Jeremy managed to convince guards to allow him to use the visitors' toilet, from which he managed to make his escape last Friday at about 4 a.m.

He was immediately declared a fugitive.

Following his escape five police officers, including Adj. First Insp. Manalu, the chief of the duty shift, were questioned and subsequently detained for their dereliction in carrying out their duty to guard the suspect.

"We want to find out whether they helped the suspect to escape justice or even whether they were bribed to allow the suspect to get away," Firman said.