Bogus bomb causes panic in N. Jakarta

Bogus bomb causes panic in N. Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Residents in this city have many ways of punishing someone in their community who they believe has violated and disturbed the public's interest.

Residents of Jl. Jembatan Gambang, at the Penjaringan subdistrict in North Jakarta, threatened their uncooperative neighbor with something similar to a time bomb on Friday evening.

The 'bomb,' which caused fear among onlookers, forced city police to send out a special bomb squad to get rid of it. After minutes of heart-stopping drama, during the evacuation of the bomb site, the squad uncovered that the 'bomb' was only a transformer equipped with a small bulb and cables.

"It just looks like a bomb," North Jakarta police chief Lt. Col. Edi Darnadi told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The special squad found a letter stuck on the 'bomb', warning the owners of bajaj (three-wheel taxis) in the area to properly manage their properties, paying special attention to the noise coming from the vehicles, their parking and the lubricating oil leaking from the vehicles.

Based on statements given by witnesses, and on evidence available, police believe the 'bomb' was placed by a number of angry neighbors inside a trash bin in front of the house of Marina, the owner of the bajaj taxis.

The 'bomb' was first spotted, at around 10 p.m., and identified as a box with a red light on it by Marina's servant, Sularsih, who then reported it to his employer.

Marina called the nearby Penjaringan police officers, who later asked for support from the city police bomb squad.

"I called the bomb squad immediately because I know nothing about dealing with bombs," head of Penjaringan police precinct, Maj. Deddy Fauzi, told the Post.

According to Deddy, many residents in the area have complained about the improper ways the bajaj roar down the roads in the housing complex.

They were probably tired of making polite reminders to the bajaj owner, he said. (bsr)