Two held for alleged role in factory theft

JAKARTA (JP): Tambora, West Jakarta police have apprehended two members of a gang believed to have broken into a garment factory in the district two months ago.

Lt. Col. Latief Rabar, a spokesman for City Police, said yesterday that the two, along with six other members of the gang, robbed Fa Standard T-shirt factory on Jl. Tiang Bendera in the wee hours of June 6 and made away with an estimated Rp 24 million.

"The other members of the gang are still at large, but we hope to capture them in the near future because we know their whereabouts," Latief said.

Latief said the robbers scaled the back wall of the factory and then broke into the main office through a hole they made in the roof by damaging four pieces of tile.

Once inside the main office the robbers broke open safes containing the loot.

"They committed the robbery in a relaxed manner, oblivious to the possibility of capture, because that day was Sunday, a holiday," observed Latief.

The robbers then divided up the money evenly.

After receiving reports about the robbery from Johannes, a manager of the factory, Tambora police conducted an investigation and found some clues on the scene.

On Aug. 15 police captured Hamdani, 24, one of the gang members, in Karawang, West Java.

Another suspect, identified as Adrianto, alias Cokeng, also 24, was arrested in West Jakarta last Wednesday.

Both confessed to the robbery during a preliminary interrogation, said Latief.

Hamdani, a newly married man no less, claimed he used the stolen money to finance his marriage and buy a television set and some furniture, while Adrianto said he used his share on rent, and the rest for pleasure. (jsk)