Suspect nabbed for stabbing a Pakistani warship sailor

JAKARTA (JP): Police announced yesterday that they have nabbed the alleged attacker of a crew member of a Pakistani warship, which is in the city for a week-long, goodwill visit.

The suspect, identified as Agustinus TW, was taken into custody at around 10 a.m. yesterday at the traffic light near the Enggano Billiard pool-hall on Jl. Enggano, North Jakarta. The 22- year-old man is a technical high school drop-out who lives on Jl. Sulawesi, South Koja subdistrict, North Jakarta.

"He tried resisting arrest, but to no avail," Lt. Col. Latief Rabar, a spokesman for the City Police, told reporters yesterday.

After receiving the report about the case at 8.30 p.m., Latief said that the North Jakarta police dispatched a team of detectives to hunt for the suspect.

During the interrogation, Agustinus told police that he had committed the robbery because he was in need of money to celebrate his 22nd birthday, which fell on Monday.

The victim was identified as Abdul Razak, 40, a Pakistani national.

The victim was reportedly strolling with a camera around his neck at about 5 p.m., near the Tanjung Priok port where his ship was anchored. As he arrived at Jl. Enggano, he tried to enter the "Presiden Bar" but found that it was closed. Razak reportedly waited for the pub to open until 5.45 p.m., sitting on the pub's terrace, before deciding to go somewhere else.

When he crossed the street in front of the pub, which was packed with motorists, Razak was accosted by Agustinus who had been tailing him.

Agustinus snatched away Razak's camera but the latter fought for his belongings in front of tens of motorists who made no effort to help.

Frustrated, Agustinus pulled out his badik (a traditional knife), stabbed Razak several times in the belly and fled, leaving the victim and his camera in the road.

Some people then helped carry the victim to the nearby hospital.

The victim was later transferred to the Navy-owned Mintohardjo hospital in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, for further medical treatment.

Police said the victim was still in critical condition as of yesterday afternoon. (jsk)