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)