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)