P

olice in Tangerang regency have arrested eight people for their alleged roles in a homicide at the Citra Raya residential complex in Cikupa, Tangerang, on Monday.

Tangerang Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Priyo Andogo said on Wednesday that the eight suspects were arrested after the police received a report that they and eight others had attacked a karaoke hall.

The eight arrested men were identified as Ade Mian, aka Ompong, 42; Kusnadi, aka Slank, 23; Saipul Maulana, aka Ipul, 22; Deden, aka Belong, 27; Suryadi, aka Belu, 21; Tohani aka Tawil, 51; Sasmita Wijaya, aka Jaya, 22; and Suhendra, aka Jendol, 27,

'The police are pursuing eight others,' he said, identifying seven of them as Stev, aka Arek; Andri, aka Belo; Bayu; Ateng; Aji; Adang; and Nurdiansah, aka Bebek.

They live in Kado Sabrang village in Cikupa together in a rented house belonging to alleged gang members from Lampung and Surabaya.

Bambang said the incident occurred when the 16 suspects attacked the karaoke house after they were refused a free room and liquor.

Karaoke workers and security guards fled the scene, except for Obed Misa, who was unaware of the situation. He died when he was attacked with machetes, knives and swords, Bambang said.

Bambang explained that the suspects had gone to the karaoke hall and requested a free room and five bottles of beer.

'When their request was rejected, the suspects became furious and left the karaoke hall shouting 'orang pribumi minta lima botol aja ga dikasih' [indigenous people ask for only five bottles and are rejected],' Bambang explained. Several security guards employed by the karaoke center are from East Nusa Tenggara, including their superior.

The suspects left and were on their way home when the head security guard at the karaoke hall, Thomas, 29, approached them and told them to stop shouting.

Two hours after the homicide, a group of men believed to be from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, started searching the nearby KFC and Bandung Bogasari restaurants. After the search, two battered bodies were found in front of the two restaurants.

The police are looking for a connection between the two cases.

Detectives chief Comr. Shinto Silitonga said the killing of Yogi and Okta was being investigated and may be linked to the murder of Obed Misa.