Angry crowds attack four robbers

Angry crowds attack four robbers

JAKARTA (JP): Four alleged robbers were beaten by angry crowds
in retaliation for crimes committed in North and East Jakarta,
City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday.

Two of the four men, identified as Harno Prayitno, 18, and
Aliudin, 23, were attacked about 11 p.m. Sunday after they were
caught trying to rob a taxi driver in Cilincing, North Jakarta,
he said.

The other two, Jahri, 20, and Taufik M. Jain, 18, were
assaulted in East Jakarta about the same time after a local
resident spotted them allegedly smashing the window of a car
parked on a road in Rawamangun Timur.

Aritonang said the first two suspects were believed to have
robbed another taxi earlier in the night and left the driver on
the street.

He said they hailed a President Taxi in Cakung, East Jakarta,
and asked the driver, Urip Jaya, to take them to Bojong in
Bekasi, West Java.

"When they arrived at Jl. Marunda in Kebon Kelapa village,
Bekasi, Harno -- who was sitting in the back seat -- began
choking Urip with a metal pipe, while Aliudin -- in the front
seat -- took Urip's wallet out of his pocket."

"The two then pushed Urip out of the taxi and drove away."

The taxi was abandoned in Rawa Tembaga, East Jakarta.

Aritonang said Harno and Aliudin had allegedly decided to rob
another taxi driver because they found only Rp 2,000 (58 U.S.
cents) in Urip's wallet.

"Not long after that they got into another taxi and headed in
the direction of Cilincing in North Jakarta," he said.

"The two threatened the driver with the metal pipe but the
driver started screaming for help before the suspects were able
to restrain him."

The name of the taxi company and the driver were not available
because the driver fled and a crowd chased the two suspects after
hearing the driver's screams, Aritonang said.

Harno and Aliudin were caught and beaten before being handed
over to Cilincing Police.

Aritonang said an angry crowd apprehended Jahri and Taufik, in
an unrelated incident, at the PJKA housing complex in Rawamangun
Timur, East Jakarta.

"The two men and an accomplice, who managed to flee, were
found smashing the window of a car owned by Ribowo of Pondok Gede
to steal the car's radio cassette player."

He said Jahri and Taufil were being detained at the Rawamangun
Police precinct while their accomplice, identified as Ridwansyah,
was still at large. (cst)