Attempted robbery ends in beating

Attempted robbery ends in beating

JAKARTA (JP): A crowd of angry residents in Kembangan, West
Jakarta, beat up a 27-year-old man for attempting to rob a taxi
driver, City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said.

The alleged robber was still being questioned and officers
were also starting to collect information from eyewitnesses in an
attempt to arrest those involved in the beating, Aritonang said
yesterday.

"Beating is a crime. Nobody has the right to beat others even
though the man is an alleged criminal," said the officer, adding
that the police would bring the suspects to court.

"People are expected to help arrest criminals but not to take
the law into their own hands by imposing physical punishment like
that."

According to the officer, anyone involved in beatings would be
charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code on violence which
imposes a maximum penalty of five years and six months
imprisonment.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the alleged robber,
identified as Nurahmat, attempted to rob President taxi driver
Waherdi, 24, on Thursday evening by pointing a knife at the
victim.

"The suspect got nothing from the driver because the people
arrived immediately after they heard the victim scream for help,"
Aritonang said.

Nurahmat got into the taxi in Tanah Abang market in Central
Jakarta at around 10 p.m., asking Waheri to drive him to Taman
Meruya housing estate in Kembangan, West Jakarta.

"The suspect sat in the front and acted as if he was looking
for a particular address by asking the victim to drive around and
around the housing complex," he said.

When they arrived at Block F9, Nurahmat suddenly took out his
knife, pointed it at the driver and gagged the latter's mouth
with his hand, Aritonang said.

After a brief fight, the driver grabbed the knife.

"I was finally able to grab the knife and point it back at
him. He looked afraid and took his hands off me. I then screamed
as loudly as I could," said the victim, as quoted by Aritonang.

The suspect was taken to the Al Kamal hospital in West Jakarta
after being processed at the local police precinct.

According to available data, Nurahmat is the second alleged
criminal who has been mobbed by angry people this week.

The first victim, former athlete Robinson Hutasoit, alias
Ucok, 35, was beaten to death Wednesday by at least 20 people at
the Klender market in East Jakarta. A preliminary investigation
has disclosed that Ucok forced traders to pay him protection
money.

A police source said recently that between two and three
alleged criminals were killed by angry mobs every week in the
city.

"Most of the 'victims' are alleged robbers and thieves," said
the officer, who asked for anonymity. (cst)