Crimes in parking area

Crimes in parking area

From Kompas

I visited Taman Anggrek Mall in West Jakarta on Dec. 14, 2001. When I was entering the parking area to leave the mall for home, an elegant man wearing a necktie suddenly intercepted me. While handing over his identity card, he introduced himself as H. Muh. Hamzah and claimed to be a Singaporean citizen working as a sailor.

He asked me for the location of shops selling export-quality furniture from Jepara, and I told him that I didn't know and then I left him. However, while I was walking to my car the man shouted: "Indonesia help me!" and then another man appeared and asked me: "What does that man want?"

This second man, who introduced himself as Hendrawan, working as a car trader in Pacenongan, disclosed his intention of accompanying Muh. Hamzah to a furniture center in Fatmawati, South Jakarta. I didn't know why, I just accepted his offer and finally the three of us went to Fatmawati in Hendrawan's car.

On the way to Fatmawati, Muh. Hamzah asked me and Hendrawan to join him in exporting Jepara furniture and said he would transfer the capital to my account and each side would receive 25 percent of the profits. At the Fatmawati furniture center he pointed to a furniture set that he would order and send to Singapore, and we then returned to Taman Anggrek Mall.

On the way back to Taman Anggrek, Hamzah showed us two Rolex watches. Hendrawan showed interest and then bought one of the watches for US$10,000. Hendrawan then asked me to buy the other watch and promised to buy the watch from me at a higher price.

Without thinking twice, accompanied by the two men, I withdrew Rp 21 million from my accounts at Bank Lippo and Bank BCA to pay for the watch, and then returned to my car in the Taman Anggrek parking area. After picking up my car I was aware that I had just been cheated by the two men. I immediately called them but the phone numbers they had given me were false.

SHERLY I

Jakarta