Cooperative looted by hundreds of own members

Cooperative looted by hundreds of own members

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Hundreds of people looted assets ranging from electronic goods to motorized vehicles, owned by the General Cooperative (KUB) of which they were members.

The rampage occurred at one of the cooperative's branches on Jl. Landak Baru in Makassar in the early hours of Tuesday with stolen goods consisting of air conditioners, refrigerators, gas stoves, TV sets and tape recorders.

The looters made off with the goods using 13 taxis and minivans.

Other looters who were actually employees of the cooperative, the largest in South Sulawesi, also stole two Soluna sedans operated by the cooperative as taxis and 12 Mahator motorcycles.

Fortunately, Makassar police officers were alerted about the incident and immediately rushed to the scene, thereby preventing others from joining the action. The officers managed to drive away looters and confiscate some of the stolen goods.

"We detained six people suspected of being involved in the looting," Adj. Comr. Herwansyah, deputy chief of detectives of the Makassar Police, said.

Thousands of customers of the cooperative claimed that they had asked the management to pay the due interest, but there was no response.

Dissatisfied, hundreds of customers then went to the Makassar Police Headquarters, asking for negotiations with the cooperative's management.

During a meeting mediated by South Sulawesi Police chief, Insp. Gen. Firman Ganie, it was agreed to establish a team tasked with salvaging the customers' savings funds.

On Monday the customers flocked to the cooperative's office, but the office was tightly guarded by police.

Firman reminded the public to be sensible and rational in facing delays in interest payments by the cooperative.

"I remind the public not to damage the cooperative's facilities because in doing so further problems are created," he said.

Firman also urged the public not to be easily enticed by offers of high interest rates by cooperatives because under normal conditions no business can give benefits in such a short time.

The delay in interest payments indicates that there is something wrong in the administration of the cooperative, he said.

Despite the protests by members of the cooperative and the consequent looting, Firman said he had no plan to arrest the chairman of the cooperative, Bustan MB. The arrest can only be made after the chairman is named as a suspect, he said. (27)