Student working as taxi driver murdered

JAKARTA (JP): Efendi Manurung, a college student who earned his living driving a taxi, was killed by two thieves pretending to be passengers on Saturday evening.

According to a police report, the crime took place at about 7:30 p.m. on a spot of Jl. Raya Marunda Cilincing in North Jakarta.

The robbers fled with an unspecified amount of money.

"Efendi died of wounds to his neck and stomach. There are indications that Efendi fought back before the two thugs slashed him with a sickle," said City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis.

The taxi -- along with Efendi's body -- was found by local residents of Cilincing at dawn on Sunday.

The crime has sparked concern among Efendi's fellow students at Jakarta Theology Institute (STT Jakarta), where he was taking classes in pastoral studies.

"He was an able student and a helping hand. I just asked him to fix my car, but he died before being able to complete the work," STT director Robert Borrong was quoted as saying by satunet.com on-line media on Sunday.

The on-line media also quoted Sonny Dande, a fellow student, as saying that Efendi was a bright and exemplary student.

"He received a scholarship from the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI). He also worked as a taxi driver to earn additional income to finance his studies," he said.

Hundreds of students paid their last respects to Efendi who was about to celebrate his 30th birthday next week.

His corpse was flown at 3 p.m. to Medan before being transported to his native town of Porsea.

Borrong urged the police to solve the case because there have been many unsolved crimes committed against taxi drivers. (nvn)