72 held for criminal acts after Semanggi incident

72 held for criminal acts after Semanggi incident

JAKARTA (JP): Police thus far have detained 72 people for
looting, extortion and attacking security officers following the
recent clashes and mayhem, a police official said on Saturday.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang vowed to bring
all of the suspects to court immediately.

"We will process all cases according to the law," Aritonang
said.

The suspects, he said, were arrested during the Black Friday
incident and the Nov. 14 violence.

Last Monday, he revealed that the police had arrested 43
people, mostly charged with looting three banks in West Jakarta
during the Saturday disorder.

Two of the newly arrested suspects were accused of attempting
to pelt stones at police officers guarding the Jakarta Police
headquarters on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta.

Aritonang said the men were caught red-handed during Black
Friday with stones in their hands while hundreds of student
protesters and people pushed each other in an attempt to break
through the police barricade.

Six others, he said, were arrested for looting at the
Carrefour shopping center in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta and
two more were arrested for looting at the Senen shopping center
also in Central Jakarta the next day.

"Most of the looters admitted to having committed the crimes
while following their friends. The number of suspects will
probably go up further based on the tip-offs from the detainees,"
the officer explained.

A man was busted for extorting money from motorists in the
Jatinegara area and the police had confiscated Rp 275,000 in cash
and a gold bracelet from him, he said.

On Friday, Governor Sutiyoso asked the police and other
related institutions to quickly open the trial of the suspects in
order to teach a lesson to others. (jun)