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)