Teacher shot death in Serpong robbery

TANGERANG (JP): A teacher was shot dead during a scuffle with two robbers who attempted to grab his wife's necklace as the couple neared Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) housing complex here Thursday evening.

Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Aryanto Boedihardjo said yesterday that Pandapotan Silaban, 38, his wife Sri Suhartini and the couple's twins were on their way home from church on a motorcycle when the robbers, also riding a motorcycle, attempted to grab the necklace.

Silaban, a teacher of state-run SMPN 5 junior high school, located in the complex, was shot in the chest, he said.

"We're still investigating the case even though we know that it's a bit difficult to identify the robbers due to the lack of evidence and data."

Sri told police that she leaned away from the robbers to prevent them stealing the jewelry and the couple's motorcycle toppled over.

When Silaban stood up he tried to attack the robbers, throwing a helmet at them, Aryanto said.

"The robbers seemed to become angry. One of them then pulled out a gun and shot Silaban in the chest," the officer quoted Sri as saying.

The robbers fled but not before snatching Sri's handbag, which containing Rp 10,000 (US$1), a Bible and some documents, she told police.

Silaban died on the way to hospital.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang urged locals at the scene to help police identify the two suspects.

"What's really sad is that the two suspects murdered the victim just to get (his wife's) handbag which contained only Rp 10,000 and a Bible."

The two suspects could be sentenced to up to 20 years in jail for violating Article 365 of the Criminal Code if they are caught. (41/jun/cst)