Armed gangs hijack cars, victims unhurt

Armed gangs hijack cars, victims unhurt

JAKARTA (JP): Gangs of armed men hijacked vehicles driven by two lone motorists in South Jakarta then abandoned their victims on the Jagorawi toll road between Jakarta and Bogor in separate incidents on Monday night.

The first victim was identified as Ajid, 22, a resident of Jl. Baung in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta. He was found with his hands bound by a toll road patrol in the Cipayung area at around 10 p.m.

Ajid, who drove a Kijang van license plate number B 9441 TD, was taken to the nearby Ciracas police subprecinct to report the incident.

Ajid said three men entered his car and threatened him with machetes when he stopped at a traffic light on Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta.

"They pushed me aside and took the steering wheel," he said.

Although shaken, Ajid suffered no serious injuries during his ordeal.

Police at Ciracas declined to comment on the incident, saying that an investigation was now underway.

Later that evening at around 11 p.m., the victim of a similar crime presented himself to attendants at the South Sentul toll gate. He had been picked up and taken there by an unidentified motorist.

The second victim was identified as Suparman, 31, a resident of Jl. Sandratex in Rempoa, South Jakarta.

The motorist found Suparman on the toll road median in the Pakuan area of Bogor. His hands had been bound.

Suparman, who was driving a Kijang van, license plate number B 1317 SI, told South Sentul toll gate attendants that a gang of youths stopped him on Jl. Ciputat Raya in South Jakarta.

Like Ajid, Suparman was driven through South Jakarta then on toward Bogor via the Pondok Pinang and Jagorawi toll roads.

Jakarta police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang confirmed the incidents had taken place and said an investigation was now underway. He declined to give any further details.

Abri from the Jagorawi toll road communication center told reporters on Tuesday that the robberies did not indicate a lack of security on toll roads.

"It's safe on the toll roads. They (the thieves) did not commit the crimes on toll roads," he said.

"The victims were only abandoned on the toll roads," he pointed out.

Abri said the robbers had apparently targeted lone motorists.

"In both incidents, the robbers hijacked the car then drove onto the toll road to get rid off the victim," Abri added. (emf)