Two Red Ax members shot dead

JAKARTA (JP): The leader of the notorious Red Ax gang and one of its members were shot dead in their rented house on Jl. Pedongkelan, North Jakarta, on Thursday morning.

Police shot the men, identified as Haryanto Wagiman alias The Captain, 25, and Ade Subakti, 31, for resisting police arrest after the latter gave two warning shots.

The men were both shot in their backs by police officers who raided the house at 3 a.m. The officers seized a cellular phone and two red axes from the suspects.

On the way to Kramatjati police hospital, Haryanto admitted to committing 20 robberies in separate locations in Jakarta, including the Coca Cola junction at Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan, East Jakarta, and in front of Mal Ciputra in Grogol, West Jakarta.

Both suspects died on their way to hospital.

The arrests of the two men were made after the police arrested another of the gang's members, identified as Topan, in North Jakarta last week.

At least five members of the gang, who are notorious for street robberies, have been shot dead by police while more than six members have been arrested since last month.

The gang usually steal cellular phones and sideview mirrors of cars trapped in traffic jams or at traffic lights. (jun)