German Couple Hospitalized in Lombok After Brutal Robbery

Fitri R.

Lombok. A German couple have been hospitalized in West Nusa Tenggara after they were stabbed during a robbery at the hostel they own in North Lombok’s Bayan Beleq village.

Roland and Imgrad Frommlet were taken to Harapan Kita Hospital in the provincial capital, Mataram, where they remain in critical condition, according to the police.

The wife, Imgrad, received multiple stab wounds in the attack, including four that cut as deep as the bone. She also suffered a punctured lung. Her husband, Roland, suffered a deep gash to his leg that required surgery.

Adj. Comr. Agus Dwi Ananto, head of the crime unit at the West Lombok district police, said the incident occurred at about 1 a.m. on Sunday. He said four people broke into the victims’ bungalow, located in the same complex as the hostel.

The victims were awakened by the sound of a dog barking at the intruders. But before Roland was able to get help from his employees, the intruders had already broken into the bungalow and began assaulting the couple.

Imgrad pepper-sprayed one of the robbers. “After she pepper-sprayed the robber, the wife was beaten and attacked using sharp weapons,” Agus said.

The robbers fled with a bag containing Rp 3 million ($315) in cash as well as a credit card belonging to one of the hostel’s occupants.

Agus said the police had learned the identities of the robbers and were searching for them. “We are in pursuit of the suspects. This was a sadistic robbery and the police have done everything we can since receiving the report,” he said.

Officers have not yet had the opportunity to speak to the victims, who are still recovering from surgery, Agus said. He added that the German Embassy in Jakarta had been notified of the incident.