Moroccoans arrested for holdup<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Five people believed to be Moroccans have been
\narrested for an alleged hold up on Jakarta's most famous tourist
\nstreet, Jl. Jaksa.<\/p>\n
The five foreigners, some of whom speak Bahasa Indonesia, are
\ncurrently undergoing intense questioning at the Jakarta Police
\nHeadquarters. Their six cohorts are still at large, Police
\nSpokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna told The Jakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
Iman said that reports of hold ups on Jl. Jaksa in Central
\nJakarta had puzzled local police. Police are concerned about
\nsecurity in the area well-known to foreign tourists.<\/p>\n
The alleged crooks were caught on Friday after local residents
\nsaw them rob an Italian tourist on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The Moroccans tried to run from a plainclothes police officer,
\nwho saw them gathering near a restaurant catering to backpackers.<\/p>\n
\"One of the suspects tried to bribe the officer with Rp
\n100,000 (US$43) cash and asked the officer to let them go,\" Iman
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Locals say 11 men, all believed to hold Moroccan passports,
\nhave been operating for several years as hold up men in the area,
\nIman recounted.<\/p>\n
Iman said the 11 alleged criminals robbed an Italian tourist,
\nidentified as Morreno Casesio, on Jl. Jaksa at 11 p.m. on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
After threatening the Italian, the culprits stole his small
\nbag containing his passport and US$2,000 in cash.<\/p>\n
\"The group was able to escape the local mob who heard what
\nhappened from the Italian man,\" Iman said.<\/p>\n
Police then decided to field a number of plainclothes
\ndetectives in the area.<\/p>\n
\"By chance, a plainclothes officer walked down to the tourist
\narea at around 11 p.m. on Friday and saw a group of foreigners
\nwho looked like those described by the local people the day
\nbefore,\" Iman said.<\/p>\n
The group ran to a car parked some meters away as the officer
\napproached them, said Iman.<\/p>\n
\"With the help of dozens of people and officers, five of them
\nwere caught,\" the spokesman said.<\/p>\n
A switchblade knife was found in the crooks' car.<\/p>\n
The five men are Bouzsiane Fouad, Loualidriss, Bouladam
\nKhalid, Saidi Mohammad and Saadi Hassan.<\/p>\n
\"Additional information will be available soon after the
\ninvestigation is completed,\" Iman said.<\/p>\n
Jl. Jaksa harbors many cheap motels. The famous street is
\nlisted in tourist guidebooks.<\/p>\n
During the peak holiday season, the motels are always fully
\nbooked. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moroccoans-arrested-for-holdup-1447893297",
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