A WEAK cry for help was heard from room 202 of Hotel Celebes in the Manado Port complex, North Su- lawesi, in mid-November. Ridwan, the hotel manager then in the lobby, rushed to the second floor, followed by a port policeman. At the room's door, Ridwan was shocked to see Said Syaus, 59, a money-changing broker, helpless on the carpet with bruises to his face. A tall, heavy guy stood in a corner of the room.

This man, S