20 Nigerians hold local hostage

20 Nigerians hold local hostage

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested 20 Nigerians and an Indonesian man, Mulyadi, who was being held hostage by the Nigerians for allegedly cheating them over a garment business.

The arrest was made in the early hours of Tuesday, after a special police team raided Hotel Tanah Abang Indah where the Nigerians were holding Mulyadi hostage, Police Captain Syaiful told Antara on Tuesday.

He said the police raided the hotel following a report from Mulyadi's friend, Amir, who informed police by phone about the incident.

Syaiful said Mulyadi was being held hostage because he allegedly failed to keep a promise he made to the Nigerians about the quality of the garments to be sent to Nigeria.

Krispan, one of the Nigerians, said he and his friends asked Mulyadi to fulfill his promise to send quality garments to Nigeria, as contained in a written agreement signed by the two parties.

He said that on March 10 he gave Mulyadi US$ 6,634.00 for the purchase of the garments.

Another Nigerian, Anaquet Gabriel, also told police that he had given US$ 1,474.00 to Mulyadi.

However, Syaiful said, the Nigerians were disappointed upon finding out that the quality of the garments did not conform to what was promised by Mulyadi. "This was the reason why the Nigerians held Mulyadi hostage."

The Nigerians and Mulyadi are still in police custody, for further investigation. (bas)