Cab drivers accuse police of car theft<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Hundreds Express Taxi drivers demonstrated in front of the West
\nJakarta Police station on Monday, demanding that police
\ninvestigate an allegation that a detective was involved in last
\nweek's taxi theft in which the driver was killed.<\/p>\n
An operational staff member of Express Taxi, Maulana, said the
\ndrivers decided to demonstrate after they found out that a
\ndetective was using the taxi driven by Sarino, 50, who was found
\ndead in Cikupa, Tangerang, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
He said they wanted an explanation from the police on how the
\ntaxi driven by their dead colleague could end up in the hands of
\na police detective.<\/p>\n
\"We talked with the West Jakarta Police chief and he promised
\nto investigate the case thoroughly and to take action against any
\nsubordinate who is found guilty,\" Maulana told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He refused to reveal the identity of the police detective.<\/p>\n
Sarino, who was registered as a driver at Express Taxi's
\nBintaro pool in South Jakarta, was found dead on Saturday morning
\nby Cikupa residents, who then reported the case to the police.<\/p>\n
Later on Saturday, the body was identified by Sarino's family,
\nand was subsequently buried. However, his family decided on
\nSunday to have his body exhumed and taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nGeneral Hospital in Central Jakarta for an autopsy, as they had
\nbegun to suspect that he had been murdered.<\/p>\n
Another Express Taxi driver, who asked not to be named, said
\nthat the detective had allegedly changed the taxi's license
\nnumber and color so he could use it freely.<\/p>\n
The taxi drivers said they recognized Sarino's taxi, but when
\nthey confronted the detective, he claimed he got the car from a
\nfriend in Bogor, West Java<\/p>\n
\"We recognized the taxi when it was used by the detective. In
\naddition, we often saw the taxi parked in front of the West
\nJakarta Police station,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Police general crimes unit chief Sr. Comr. Moh.
\nJaelani acknowledged on Sunday that the police were investigating
\nthe death of Sarino and how the taxi could be parked in the West
\nJakarta Police station compound.<\/p>\n
\"We are investigating the case and hope we can find out who
\nwas behind the murder. It is impossible that a police officer was
\ninvolved in theft,\" he told the Post.<\/p>\n
Jaelani said that even if a detective had been involved in car
\ntheft, it would be very stupid to take the car to the office.<\/p>\n
Many people have expressed suspicion that police officers
\ncould be involved in car theft, either as the thieves or
\nindirectly as buyers of stolen cars, because they have the means
\nto change license numbers and ownership documents.<\/p>",
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