W. Jakarta's crime rate down

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said yesterday the crime rate in West Jakarta dropped by 23.7 percent last year.

Hamami said under the leadership of the outgoing chief of West Jakarta police precinct, Lt. Col. Andi Chaerudin Purwanegara, the number of crimes decreased to 2,239 cases last year from 3,069 in 1995.

Of the 2,239 cases last year, 66.4 percent or 1,555 cases had been processed during the former chief's nine-month tenure, Hamani said.

Hamami yesterday inducted the new West Jakarta police precinct chief, Lt. Col. Bakat Purwanto, who was formerly chief of the police detectives unit at the City Police.

Bakat stepped into the limelight after solving the notorious murder of Christine, whose dismembered body was found in Ancol in 1989. Bakat graduated top of the police leadership course in 1995.

He was also one of the team which nailed Zarina, the runaway suspect of a highly-publicized ecstasy case, in the United States last year.

"I will continue the policy and programs mapped out by my predecessor, and for the time being I will study the cases and characteristics of crimes in the area before laying out a new strategy," Bakat said.

Former chief Andi Chaerudin said theft, robbery and manslaughter cases were highest in West Jakarta, which has about 1.8 million residents.

According to Hamami, the new chief should be more responsive to sensitive cases like land disputes due to the rapidly spreading housing complexes in West Jakarta, especially in Kebon Jeruk, Kembangan, Kali Deres and Cengkareng.

Of Greater Jakarta's seven police precincts, the West Jakarta police precinct had the highest crime rate early last year. Its crime rate has dropped to make it fourth highest now, according to police data.

The City Police information division used to routinely release the city's crime rates. This information was suspended last November without explanation. (04)