Soldier killed in card game

Soldier killed in card game

JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) member was
attacked early on Tuesday by his neighbors in Jatiuwung district,
Tangerang, following a dispute over a gambling game. He died in a
nearby hospital a few hours later from severe head injuries.

The victim was identified as 38-year-old Hamdani, a first
corporal at Jakarta Military Command, city police spokesman Lt.
Col. Zainuri Lubis said.

Hamdani is believed to have been attacked by four people,
identified as Sarpan, Adung, Ending and Paimin. All of them were
detained at the Jatiuwung police subprecinct, Lubis said.

"The four were unable to escape as there were a lot of people
around when the dispute erupted," Lubis said.

Police said the four all lived nearby the victim and often
spent time together at night during neighborhood security watch.

The incident took place in front of Kartika clinic on Jl. Raya
Kroncong at around 1:30 a.m.

In preliminary questioning, they admitted to playing cards and
betting Rp 1,000 on each game -- a common activity in the
neighborhood.

During the game, one of the men asked Hamdani to change his Rp
5,000 for Rp 1,000 notes. Hamdani took five notes but only
returned Rp 1,500.

The man protested and became angry with Hamdani, who told the
man to calm down, while promising to give the rest of the money
later if he won the game, Lubis said.

"The angry suspect challenged Hamdani to a fight," Lubis said,
then Hamdani apparently hit the man to silence him. At this, the
three other gamblers attacked Hamdani.

Pedicab driver Suheri, who witnessed the incident, told police
that the four men repeatedly beat Hamdani with a wooden bench,
Lubis said. (emf)