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)