Attacks on city taxi drivers on the rise

JAKARTA (JP): Another taxi driver has become the victim of robbers pretending to be passengers, indicating that the frequency of attacks on taxi drivers has not decreased.

This time a President taxi driver, Agus Suharso, 20, was attacked by two passengers early yesterday in the Kapuk area, West Jakarta.

Agus suffered stab wounds in his left ear and right hand. Two suspects were arrested soon after the attack.

The suspects, identified as Aan Susanto, 23, and Supriyadi, 23, were apprehended with machetes in their possession.

West Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Andi Chaerudin said the suspects, both of whom are jobless, were apprehended by residents in the area after the driver shouted for help.

"The residents then handed over the two men to a police patrol that happened to be in the area," Andi said.

The officer said the two men stopped the taxi at a red light in Kalijodo and asked the driver to go to the Kapuk area.

The men allegedly threatened Agus with machetes and demanded money when they reached Kapuk, he said.

The suspects escaped after allegedly stealing Rp 75,000 (US$31.91) from the driver.

Agus shouted for help when he thought the men had left, but they came back and allegedly stabbed him in the left ear and right hand.

Residents who heard Agus shout surrounded the men and overpowered them.

"We appreciate the residents in the area who helped the taxi driver in the robbery," Andi added.

City police records show that robbery of taxi drivers has reached serious levels this year.

"We're deeply concerned about the fate of taxi drivers in this city due to the growing number of armed robberies on them. They are small-income people," said City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata recently.

Speaking with executives of public transportation companies, Hamami revealed that at least 10 taxi drivers are robbed and killed by passengers every year.

"The number now is growing," he said giving no details.

"Their employers should immediately devise a proper way to protect the drivers," the two-star general said.

"The companies should also consider the fate of the drivers' wives and children if the drivers can not be well-protected, such as with the installation of a transparent fiberglass partition behind the drivers' seat," he said.

On Sept. 19, a taxi driver was wounded and robbed by two unidentified men on Jl. Fakhruddin, Tanah Abang district, in Central Jakarta.

The taxi driver, identified as Daryamin, was stabbed in the neck with scissors by one of the men. The robbers are still at large. (jun/bsr)