Cops say 'oink' to green-clad terror

Evi Mariani and Marilin, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Depok

The Jakarta Police announced on Monday that the talk-of-the-town kolor hijau (green underwear) creature -- believed to be a creature that is half-man and half-pig -- does not in fact exist and is only a rumor.

In an apparent move to curb disquiet among certain sections of the public, the police announced a third suspect in the case -- Nurmah, 22, a housewife from Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta.

She reported to Jagakarsa Police on Sunday evening that she had been attacked by the kolor hijau who, she claimed, ripped her T-shirt and scratched her with his claws.

Previously, Ciputat Police had charged Saripah and Rosadah, who both reported they had been assaulted by the creature, as suspects for making false reports and wasting police time.

Jagakarsa Police chief Comr. M. Yusuf said that Nurmah admitted under questioning that she had been lying. She said she had torn her own T-shirt with a razor blade. She had also used the blade to slash her right arm seven times and her left arm three times.

Police said that Nurmah's husband was unemployed. The family were desperate for money, and so she had pretended to be attacked in the hope that she would elicit public sympathy and be showered with donations.

Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo told a press briefing that the three suspects would be charged with breaching Article 220 of the Criminal Code. If convicted, they could be sentenced to jail terms of up to 16 months.

He also said that the police were still investigating whether there was a "mastermind" behind the rumors. Police had warned the public that certain individuals or groups might try to terrorize the public as the general election approached.

On Sunday, Daryati, a resident of Beji, Depok, claimed she had been assaulted by the kolor hijau at around 11 p.m. but she bravely managed to fight the creature off. Although Daryati did not report her story to the police, her tale spread like wildfire in neighboring kampongs.

Distracted temporarily from his busway project, Governor Sutiyoso called on Jakartans not to panic and urged them to stay vigilant. He also urged the city police to set up a team to investigate the case.

"If the information is valid and the evidence sufficiently strong, I hope the police will fully investigate this case to shed some light on the mystery," he said.

Although the police have announced that the kolor hijau does not exist, people in some parts of Jakarta have erected yellow bamboo sticks, and affixed lontar (palmyra palm) leaves and kelor leaves above their doors, believing that these are capable of countering black magic.