W. Jakarta's crime rate down

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)