Theft reported at Akbar's house: Police

JAKARTA (JP): City police have launched an investigation into a reported burglary in the early morning hours of Saturday at the residence of Golkar Party chairman and House Speaker Akbar Tandjung.

Akbar was out of town and no members of his household at Jl. Widya Chandra III/10, in the ministerial housing complex in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, were willing to confirm the reported burglary.

But Jakarta Police chief spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said the burglar, or burglars, made off with a bag containing two checkbooks and Rp 2 million in cash.

There was no evidence of breaking and entering in the working room where the bag was believed to have been left, Zainuri said, adding that the burglary took place at about 4:30 a.m.

"I got a call this morning reporting the burglary at Akbar's house. I asked my men to check, and there was indeed a burglary," Zainuri said without giving the identity of the caller.

He refused to give more details, and instead directed reporters to the Kebayoran Baru District Police.

But subdistrict police chief Maj. Sudjatmo was puzzled when asked about the case.

"Burglary? What burglary? We did not receive any reports about a burglary at Akbar's house," he said.

The gate to Akbar's residence was locked and the security guard, Supriyadi, refused to answer any questions about the burglary.

"Look, I know what you're up to, but I can't say anything," he said as he ran back to the house.

Guards from next door, which is the official residence of State Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Zarkasih Nur, said they did not see or hear anything suspicious on Friday night.

Syafei and Setiono said they were also not aware of any burglary at Akbar's house.

"We just saw it on TV," Setiono said.

The alleged theft at Akbar's residence has sparked anger from several House members.

Yasril Ananta Baharuddin, the chairman of House Commission I for defense, foreign and political affairs, said the incident insulted the National Police, who had recently vowed to tighten security around legislators following the recent attempted murder of Matori Abdul Djalil, the deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly, and the unsolved shootings from several parts of the House complex.

Legislator Faisal Baasir blamed the theft on police officers who were assigned to safeguard the residences of the lawmakers.

"I want all the police officers, including their superiors, who were assigned to secure the complex, to be replaced as soon as possible," he told a local television station. (09/bsr)