"But this information is according to the data provided by the Malaysian government. We are still verifying data, especially everything related to the identities of the three alleged robbers," Natalegawa said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said that only one Indonesian citizen was confirmed shot dead by the Malaysian police in a shootout, contrary to reports that all four victims of the shooting were Indonesians.

"Only one of the shooting victims has been confirmed as an Indonesian citizen. The identities of the other three victims are yet to be verified as specific data on their nationalities has not been found yet," he said at the President's office here on Thursday.

Natalegawa added that the family of the victim has been notified and the body is in the process of repatriation to Indonesia.

"The family has been notified and the body of the identified victim is in the process of repatriation, while the other three bodies will remain in Malaysia until their identities can be established," he said.

Natalegawa told the media that the Malaysian police reported that three of the four shootout victims possessed criminal records for robberies in the country.

The Malaysian police stated that three of the victims were involved in a robbery attempt at the time of being apprehended and exchanged gunfire with policemen.

"But this information is according to the data provided by the Malaysian government. We are still verifying data, especially everything related to the identities of the three alleged robbers," he said.

The Foreign Minister has asked the Indonesian Ambassador in Malaysia to handle the matter and to verify the chronology of events leading to the shootout.

"Of course the system works to investigate the chronology and other factors," he said.

As reported earlier, five alleged Indonesian citizens were shot dead by the Malaysian police in a plantation in Ipoh area, Perak, Malaysia on Friday, September 7, 2012. The men were reportedly called Joni alias M Sin, Osnan, Hamid, Diden, and Mahno.

Earlier on Wednesday in Batam, Joni`s wife Devi said that she heard media reports of her husband and four others being allegedly shot dead by the Malaysian police.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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