Police arrest 29 for fresh looting at Harco Plaza<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Marines and security personnel rounded up 29
\npeople looting shops in Harco Plaza, Mangga Dua in North Jakarta
\nearly Saturday, police said yesterday.<\/p>\n
City police spokesman Lt. Col. E Aritonang said the alleged
\nlooters were transferred to the city police headquarters Saturday
\nafternoon.<\/p>\n
\"The police have also received the seized loot to be used as
\nevidence,\" Aritonang said.<\/p>\n
The security forces handed over a truckload of booty to the
\npolice that consisted of mainly electronic goods, such as
\ntelevision sets, radios, tape recorders, refrigerators and
\ncomputers.<\/p>\n
About 200 people were plundering the plaza when the marines,
\nbased in Gunung Sahari close to the business district, and other
\nsecurity forces arrived after residents reported the incident.<\/p>\n
The 29 alleged looters detained by the security forces had no
\nway to escape when the troops fired warning shots and moved into
\nthe building, Aritonang said.<\/p>\n
The incident is the latest report of looting following the May
\n13 and May 14 riots in which thousands of shops and malls were
\nplundered and burned.<\/p>\n
\"The looters ran away with television sets, clothes and other
\nelectronic goods from Harco Plaza. Some told us that many more
\npeople were still in the plaza, trying to get more stuff,\"
\ncommander of the naval base, Commodore La Ode Dayan, told the
\nmedia Saturday while recounting the raid.<\/p>\n
\"By the time we got there, we saw people busily looting the
\nplace. Troops guarding nearby areas fired warning shots and the
\ncrowd broke up,\" La Ode said.<\/p>\n
Before being handed over to the police, the alleged looters
\nwere identified at the naval base and had their heads shaved.<\/p>\n
\"Please sir, I'm not a criminal. I just wanted to get free
\nstuff for my family,\" one of the alleged looters said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta military spokesman Lt. Col. D.J. Nachrowi told
\nreporters that the authorities would no longer tolerate looting.<\/p>\n
\"Currently, we are in a very deep economic crisis. People
\nshould have the courage to report such criminal acts so that
\nJakarta can be a safe place,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aritonang said that of the 1,214 people arrested in connection
\nwith the recent riots, over 950 were still being detained for
\nfurther legal processing.<\/p>\n
The alleged looters will be charged under Article 362 and
\nArticle 363 of the Criminal Code for looting, carrying a maximum
\nof seven years imprisonment, and Article 187 for arson, which has
\na maximum sentence of five years.<\/p>\n
\"Many of the people being arrested are ordinary people who
\njoined the looting because they are poor and had the opportunity
\nto get free stuff, such as food,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"More of those still in detention may be freed because they
\ncommitted only petty crimes and based on existing laws, their
\ncases could be processed without them being detained,\" Aritonang
\nadded. (edt\/ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/police-arrest-29-for-fresh-looting-at-harco-plaza-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}