City still safe despite 5.4% rise in crime: Police

JAKARTA (JP): There has been a record number of crimes in the city this year, Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said yesterday.

Based on police data, crime in the city increased 5.4 percent to 19,432 incidents compared to 18,428 last year, he told a year- end press conference.

But Hamami quickly denied that the rise meant the city was no longer safe.

"It indicates that there is now a growing awareness among people here to always report the crimes happening around them.

"The public's participation in handling crimes has been quite significant as a large number of suspects were caught and handed over to police," Hamami said.

The two-star general said that at least 1,916 suspects -- about 12 percent of the suspects detained by city police this year -- were handed over by members of the public, he said.

But the number of crimes solved by police dropped 0.28 percent to 10,490 cases this year from 9,998 last year, he said.

"In other words, this year we have completed, and passed on to the prosecutor's office, 53.97 percent of the matters. Last year we solved 54.25 percent."

Hamami predicted that four types of crimes -- assault, burglary, robbery and vehicle theft -- will rank the highest in 1998, as they have this year.

Vehicle theft topped this year's crime list with 4,146 cases, followed by 3,312 burglaries, 1,553 robberies and 742 incidents of assault.

According to police data (see table), East Jakarta was the most crime-prone area this year with 3,348 reported infractions, followed by South Jakarta with 2,918 and Central Jakarta with 2,471.

South Jakarta was regarded as the most crime-prone precinct last year with 3,495 offense, followed by East Jakarta with 3,172.

"These two precincts have exchanged places for the title of 'most crime-prone' in the past couple of years," Hamami said.

Depok and Tanjung Priok Port remained the precincts with the least amount of crime, a position they have held for at least two years, he said.

This year the precincts reported 961 and 109 crimes respectively.

Police data also identified drug-related matters, the killing of police officers, abortion, bank scams, abductions and traffic accidents as among the most serious crimes here this year.

"We, for example, have paid special attention to drug-related crimes," Hamami said.

Police handled 134 drug-related offenses this year, including 52 major cases, with 70 locals and 21 foreigners arrested as suspects, he said.

A total of 12.7 kilograms of heroin, 232.2 kilograms of marijuana, 4.1 million psychotropic pills, one kilogram of hashish oil, Rp 131 million (US$26,300) in cash and two guns were confiscated as evidence in 52 drug-related matters.

Hamami highlighted the tendency for suspects to lash out at law enforcers.

"Suspects are no longer afraid to attack or even kill officers now," he said.

Four police officers were killed, two severely wounded and 36 others injured during arrests or raids, he said.

"Being a police officer is not easy. But we will stick to our principle of reward and punishment for all of our officers," Hamami said.

At least 68 officers were brought before the military tribunal this year for disciplinary action, while 223 others were honored for their good service. (cst)