Two suspected robbers shot dead by policemen

JAKARTA (JP): Police have shot dead two alleged robbers for resisting arrest in the Pamulang district of Tangerang, West Java, and Pademangan in North Jakarta.

The victims were identified as Sutopo and Lias, respectively.

South Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Yudi Sushariyanto said Sutopo was shot yesterday because he attacked an officer with a machete as police tried to apprehend him.

Sutopo was believed to have been involved in an armed robbery with five accomplices at the house of Bachtiar in Pamulang on March 4, Yudi said.

Three of Sutopo's friends, identified as Muhadi, 27, Rusdi, 17, and Fahrizal, 17, surrendered themselves to police after Sutopo was shot, he said.

Police are searching for the two remaining suspects.

"The two men were not there when we raided the suspects. But we've already got their descriptions."

Yudi said that Muhadi, Rusdi and Fahrizal admitted during interrogation that they killed Amrizal, Bachtiar's relative, during the robbery.

The suspects jumped over the fence and turned off the electricity at Bachtiar's house on the night of the robbery, the police chief said.

They started to attack Amrizal when he came out of the house to check the fuse box, he said.

"The suspects killed Amrizal and severely wounded Bachtiar who came to Amrizal's aid."

He said the suspects could only steal Rp 50,000 from Amrizal's pocket that night.

Muhadi told reporters yesterday that he regretted his actions.

"I regret it. That's why I attended the Tahlilan, a prayer for the dead, afterward," he said.

Yudi said that Muhadi was the only suspect who dared to show himself in public and he even helped drive Amrizal to the hospital and later buried the suspect as though he had not been involved in the crime.

The other alleged thief, Lias, 30, was shot late Thursday, not long after he stole a wristwatch and jewelry from a passenger on a public minivan on Jl. Ampera in Pademangan.

A Pademangan Police officer said the passenger, Sumiyati, immediately reported the incident to a nearby police station.

Police rushed to the scene and found Lias was still in the area, the officer, who asked for anonymity, said.

Lias refused to surrender and pulled out a knife which he wielded even after police fired warning shots into the air.

"It's the police's duty to warn him (suspect), but if he has a gun or a sharp weapon then he is considered dangerous. We were forced to defend ourselves."

Lias died at the scene with three gunshot wounds to his head and chest.

"We still have to find where Lias' family resides as he didn't have his identification card with him," he said.

Lias' body was sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta for a postmortem examination. (emf/cst)