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)