Student working as taxi driver murdered

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)