Two arrested in connection with murder of driver

JAKARTA (JP): Detectives of the Johar Baru police subprecinct in Central Jakarta have arrested two suspects in the killing of a bajaj (motorized pedicab) driver, who was fatally stabbed while defending his passenger from being robbed.

"The two suspects, repeat offenders, were arrested at their respective homes about 30 hours after the Thursday killing of the intrepid bajaj driver, Muchayat," Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said on Saturday.

The first suspect, Yandi Nardi Hendra, 40, who is believed to have stabbed Muchayat, was arrested at his home on Jl. M. Ali, Tanah Tinggi subdistrict in Johar Baru at 9 a.m. Saturday.

His accomplice, Ramdani, 24, was apprehended an hour later at Kampung Rawa Sawah.

Preliminary police investigations revealed that the incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. on Thursday on Jl. Gunung Sahari II, when the two suspects, on a motorcycle, intercepted Muchayat, who was taking a female passenger, Vony Rodiyah, to her home on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta. Vony, 33, is a cashier at a billiards center on Jl. Gunung Sahari.

According to Abubakar, the two men immediately went to the passenger's seat behind the driver and insisted that the woman hand over her purse.

Attack

"Seeing that the two men were robbers, the bajaj driver attacked them from his seat in an attempt to save the life of his passenger," Abubakar said.

"During the fight, Muchayat had a moment when he could step on the gas, causing one of the two robbers to fall to the street," the officer said.

The driver's action, however, angered the other suspect, Yandi, at which time he stabbed Muchayat in his right arm.

"About a 100 meters further on, the bajaj slowed down and stopped with the driver's body hanging over the vehicle's steering wheel," Abubakar said.

Abubakar said that the Jakarta Metropolitan Police chief, Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata, is planning to hand over a reward to the driver's wife in appreciation of Muchayat's bravery.

The amount, scheduled to be handed over today, has not been announced.

Muchayat was buried in his hometown, Purwokerto, in Central Java on Saturday. (bsr)