Suspected murderer captured after two years on the run

JAKARTA (JP): Police have apprehended a man who allegedly killed a bus conductor in a quarrel two years ago in Cibitung district, Bekasi.

The suspect, identified as Endang Sofyan alias Yayan, 31, a chauffeur, was apprehended last Friday evening when he returned home to his parents' house in Mekar Jaya village, Cibitung district, two years after the murder.

"He did not resist arrest," Sgt. Supriyanto, chief of the Cibitung district detectives, told reporters yesterday.

Endang was suspected of killing Rosad, 30, a conductor living in the same village, at around 5:30 p.m. on May 23, 1992.

According to the police, Endang was on the way home on the day of the murder when he saw a woman, who remained unidentified, stumble near a public bus in the Cikarang Bus Terminal, Bekasi.

Upon seeing the incident, Endang reportedly said, "What's the matter, `mam?", intending to help her, said the police.

"I'm down," the woman was quoted by Endang as saying.

The bus conductor, Rosad, was seemingly upset with what he considered as Endang's intervention of his privacy. He yelled at Endang and told him not to interfere, police said.

Endang said he was just wondering, and boarded the bus. On arrival at Mekar Jaya village Endang attempted to alight but Rosad and another conductor tried to block his way, making provocative gestures which led to a fight, police said.

The two conductors cornered Endang, who then dashed to a roasted meat vendor nearby, snatched the knife from the trader's cart, and attacked the conductors who were still chasing him, police said.

Endang fled, leaving the knife and Rosad with a wound to his head, said the police.

After receiving the report about the murder from the roasted meat vendor, the Cibitung police sent two detectives to look for Endang in various places in West Java, as far as Bogor, Sukabumi, Cirebon, and Kerawang.

Supriyanto said area residents consider Endang a good man who had never made trouble. (jsk)