Unsolved cases question of bad luck: Police

Unsolved cases question of bad luck: Police

JAKARTA (JP): Denying harsh criticism from the public, a high
ranking police official claimed yesterday that luck was the chief
factor behind a number of unsolved criminal cases.

"It's untrue when the critics say the police investigation
system does not work well. Luck is a determining factor in the
solving of cases," Head of the National Police Crime Investigation
Directorate Brig. Gen. Rusdihardjo said during a year-end press
meeting, which was called by National Police Chief Gen. Banurusman
Astrosemitro.

Rusdihardjo did acknowledge a lack of professionalism on the
part of inexperienced police detectives assigned for the first time
to secure evidence and clues at the scenes of crimes.

"To be honest, many of our detectives failed to do their
assignment properly which, in turn, made it difficult to assure the
judges about their findings," the one-star general said.

Rusdihardjo was asked by Banurusman to respond to a reporter's
question about the "mystery" of several major unsolved criminal
cases. Up to today, the police have yet to release information on
the progress being made in their investigations.

Among the top criminal cases recorded this year in the city are
the cold-blooded killing of six members of Herbin Hutagalung's
family; the murder of entertainment businessman Nyo Beng Seng, the
killing of six-year-old Levina Dwisy in Ancol, and the brutal murder
of ex-convict Johny Sembiring.

"We have identified the main suspect of the killing of the
Hutagalungs, but we're still unlucky in that we have been unable to
arrest him," Rusdihardjo said.

The killing of the Hutagalungs in Bekasi was the top crime story
in the early days of 1994.

The suspect, a construction worker formerly employed at the
family's home, killed Hutagalung's wife, sister and four of his
children, aged between three and 14 years.

The suspect, identified as Suyono, alias Gendut, is still at
large and is currently believed to have migrated to Malaysia.

Gen. Banurusman said Gendut has been listed as one of the
nation's most wanted criminals.

When asked to comment on the latest progress in the
investigation into Beng Seng's murder, Rusdihardjo asked reporters
to be more patient.

Beng Seng was killed last April by a group of masked men in
front of his second wife's mansion at Jl. Pluit Kencana Raya 128 in
North Jakarta. The killing was believed to have been planned by a
major competitor in the gambling businesses.

Two suspects believed to have played roles in his murder were
arrested at the Soekarno-Hatta airport after they disembarked from a
flight from Singapore.

City police officers claimed it is only a matter of time before
they arrest more suspects and the man behind the killing.

"We still need evidence before arresting the main suspect, who
is hiding somewhere abroad," an officer said.

Commenting on the latest news on the murders of Levina and
Johny Sembiring, Rusdihardjo simply said: "So far we still have no
breakthroughs."

In a related development, City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hindarto
held a meeting with North Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Edi Darnadi
to study the motive behind the killing of Levina, who was found dead
near her bicycle at Ancol dreamland.

According to city police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko,
the meeting yesterday temporarily concluded that the kindergarten
girl was murdered under the initiative of a person wanting revenge
against her father.

"The city police want to solve the case before the end of this
year," Bambang said.

The North Jakarta police have intensified their investigation
of this case and are re-questioning 32 people.

"In short, we have identified a suspect, but we need more
information and evidence to prove our findings," Bambang said. (bsr)