Drivers complain of extortion at Ciputat

TANGERANG: A number of traders and public minivan drivers in Ciputat have complained about hoodlums who extort money from them everyday.

Asep, one of the drivers who serves the Ciputat-Cileduk route, said he must give at least Rp 3,000 to the hoodlums each day.

Another driver, Safei, said that last week, several hoodlums broke the window of a minivan serving the Ciputat-Pondok Aren route because the driver refused to give money to the hoodlums.

Meanwhile, Udin, a food vendor, complained that everyday, he and other vendors must pay Rp 2,000 each to the hoodlums.

Sarwiji, 46, a trader at the market told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday there were 20 hoodlums who usually gathered near the market on Jl. Ki Hajar Dewantoro, right in front of the Ciputat military command headquarters.

Tangerang police recently cracked down on hundreds of the hoodlums in many parts in Tangerang, but those in Ciputat, are still untouched. --JP