Three servicemen arrested for stealing bird nests
Three servicemen arrested for stealing bird nests
JAKARTA (JP): Eleven people, including three servicemen were arrested yesterday by a joint police-military team in a pre-dawn robbery at a swallow nest warehouse in a remote area of Teluk Naga in Tangerang, about 30 kilometers west of here.
One of the 15 thieves was killed in a shootout with the team while three others are still at large, a police officer said yesterday.
One of the suspects is believed to be a head of neighborhood, according to a reliable source, who refused to be named.
The gang members, armed with Madson guns of nine mm caliber were believed to have used military vehicles in their operation. They also had six different sharp weapons, police sources said.
City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna confirmed the robbery but refused to give further details.
When it comes to criminal acts involving military personnel, police always refuse to reveal the identity of the suspects.
According to Iman, the robbery took place around 1:30 a.m yesterday at the warehouse owned by Rengina Iman, 60, in the small village of Pangkalan.
The robbers broke into the house and immediately locked up the security guards of the warehouse, Iman said.
Tip-off
"Police received a tip-off from a resident and promptly instructed the patrolling unit to deal with it," the spokesman said.
As the unit arrived at the scene of crime, a number of local military personnel were already at the scene, preparing to attack the thieves, he said.
The robbers, who refused to surrender, fired a shot at the police and soldiers outside the house.
During the clash, one of the suspects, identified as Ending Thoyib, 26, was fatally shot, said Iman.
Three of the gang members escaped with about five kilograms of valuable swallow's nest.
The nest, which is made of the birds' saliva, currently costs around Rp 2.7 million (US$1,190) per kilogram. The delicious bird nest is very popular among Chinese people.
At the scene of the crime, police found a gun, an FN cartridge, 25 bullets, five weapons, a crowbar, a minibus, ropes and chains, Iman said.
The 11 suspects are identified only as Suk, An, Har, Mar, An, Sut, To, Sap, Dad, Mas and Roh.
They are between 20 and 45 years old, said Iman.
The source said that Suk was a corporal while the ranks of the other two servicemen, An and Har, are still being withheld.
The case is being jointly handled by the local police and military offices, Iman said. (bsr)