Three taxi robbers shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): Three robbers were shot dead by police as they tried to rob a taxi driver at a night spot in the small hours of Tuesday, police said.

Police said that the three, armed with two pocket-knives and a dagger, tried to rob a taxi driver near the Dis Medika discotheque at 2 a.m. on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta.

The driver, Suhendro, cried for help. People nearby came to help him and, at the same time, a police patrol car was passing by.

Police opened fire when the robbers tried to escape. All three were fatally injured and died on the spot, police said.

Lukman Mardadi, 25, a resident of Cimanggis, Bogor, was shot in his left leg and right chest, while Lucky Julius, 22, of Cilincing, North Jakarta, was shot in the head, left waist and the leg. The third culprit, still unidentified, was also shot in the leg and forehead.

Police said they first fired a warning shot before aiming at the three thieves who tried to run away. (01)