City told to fix transport system amid rampant robberies

City told to fix transport system amid rampant robberies

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Criminologist Erlangga Masdiana of the University of Indonesia
called on the city administration to improve the public
transportation system in the capital following widespread reports
of robberies targeting passengers.

Erlangga said the lack of public transportation vehicles on
the outskirts of Jakarta had forced stranded passengers to use
alternative forms of transportation, which often put them at
risk.

"The administration must improve public transportation so that
commuters do not have to use ompreng (private vans used for
commercial purposes to transport passengers)," he said.

Police arrested five suspects on Sunday who allegedly carried
out a series of robberies targeting commuters on Sunday. The
suspects usually offered lifts to stranded passengers.

"They used a private van to disguise their intent. On their
way to certain destinations, they would rob the passengers," said
city police detectives' chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang.

The suspects are Alboin Simanjuntak, Anggian Hutajulu alias
Atom, Alfon Sihombing alias Abal, Ledis Susianita and Sri Lilis
Agustina. They were arrested in three separate places in
Citeureup, Bogor; Kampung Rambutan, East Jakarta; and Bekasi.

To lull their victims into a false sense of security, the two
female suspects pretended to be passengers.

From the suspects, the police seized 15 wrist watches,
jewelry, three cell phones and the Suzuki Carry van used in the
robbery.

Salempang said in some cases, the robbers also forced the
victims to give them their PIN numbers.

"Sometime, they also took their victims hostage and demanded
ransoms from their families," he said.

The robbers operated on the outskirts of Jakarta, including in
Gunung Putri, Bogor; Cimanggis, Depok; Bekasi; Ciracas and
Cibubur, both in East Jakarta.

The arrests of the suspects followed reports from victims.