Toll robbery involed no soldiers: Feisal

Toll robbery involed no soldiers: Feisal

JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung
denies involvement of Armed Forces members in the bloody robbery
on the Jagorawi toll road on Oct. 11.

Responding to reporters' questions after dedicating two new
mosques built by the Amal Bhakti Pancasila foundation in Bogor
yesterday, the four-star general said his subordinates will
investigate reports that the robbers used an FN 45, a gun issued
to Armed Forces members.

"We have intensified the operation to register guns, including
firearms purchased abroad and used here," Feisal said.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Military Commander May. Gen. Sutiyoso said
in Bekasi, West Java, his office has been cooperating with city
police in collecting all military firearms held by civilians and
retired military and police officers.

He called on civilians and retired military personnel who have
firearms to hand the guns to the city police headquarters.

"I want people who know any civilians or retired servicemen
possessing guns to report to the police headquarters or Jakarta
Garrison through P.O. Box 222. We will guarantee their safety,"
said Sutiyoso.

City police and the military have been undertaking an
operation to register guns held by servicemen and take possession
of those owned by civilians and retired military officers
following a series of armed robberies in Greater Jakarta.

Robberies of bank customers withdrawing money have increased
in Jakarta and Bogor recently.

Two unidentified men, one of whom was armed with a gun, robbed
a private employee of Rp 33 million (US$14,165) on Jl. Fatmawati
in Cilandak, South Jakarta on Oct.11.

A manager at a language institute in South Jakarta was robbed
after he left the Lebak Bulus BRI bank recently.

Another fatal robbery took place on the Jagorawi toll road on
Oct. 11. Reports on the robbery became controversial after police
found shells from an FN 45 gun at the crime scene soon after the
shooting of Zaenuddin Lesmana by one of three men. This indicated
that the suspects were Armed Forces members.

Zaenuddin had left a BRI bank after withdrawing Rp 650
million. He was accompanied by Norman Lubis and Cece Tajudin. A
Kijang van intercepted Zaenuddin's car and three men jumped out
of the van before one of them smashed the rear window of
Zaenuddin's car and shot him to death. The men made off with Rp
350 million belonging to Zaenuddin's office.

Norman and Cece escaped unhurt. Cece, told the police soon
after the shooting that the shooter was a friend of his, an Army
member identified only as Sgt. S.

Both Norman and Cece were detained by Bogor police, who
believed they were involved in the robbery.

Col. Dadang Garnida, Bogor police chief, announced on Monday
that Cece had died. However, Dadang denied that Cece died in
police custody.

Cece, a father of three, along with Norman, were expected to
become key witness in the robbery.

Dadang said he had no idea about the illness Cece had while in
detention.

He told The Jakarta Post yesterday the postmortem report from
the PMI hospital, where the autopsy on Cece was performed, was
not ready. "Ask the doctor in charge, not me," he said.

Relatives have reportedly been questioned about the death of
Cece. They said that Cece was improperly treated while in
custody. They also said Cece had been transferred to military
police detention.

However, none of Cece's relatives have filed lawsuit against
the police for his death.

"They have the right to file suit if they wish," Dadang said
yesterday. (sur/kod/21)