Drunken seaman mobbed by security guards

JAKARTA (JP): Patrons and security guards attacked a drunken Navy seaman after he tried to steal a bottle of liquor from a convenience store in West Jakarta on Sunday morning, police have said.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang yesterday quoted eyewitnesses as saying Purwo Rinaryo, 23, a seaman from the West Fleet training command, was mobbed after he refused to pay for the liquor he hid in his jacket and attacked a security guard and a customer.

Purwo was not wearing his uniform at the time of the incident.

"Eyewitnesses said that Purwo, who was drunk when he entered the Murah and Baik store at about 1 a.m., got mad at an employee of the store when the latter asked him to pay for the hidden bottle," Aritonang said.

The witnesses also said that Purwo started the fight by punching a store security officer and a visitor in the face when the two tried to calm him down, he said.

"They said Purwo then pulled out a knife and chased after the store's security officer and the visitor, identified as Afrizal," he said.

Afrizal's three companions then moved against Purwo and tried to paralyze him, Aritonang said.

Afrizal turned back and, together with the security guard and one of his colleagues, mobbed the drunken officer, he said.

After the incident, Purwo was taken to Gatot Subroto Army Hospital in Central Jakarta for head injuries.

He will later be questioned by military police for allegedly getting drunk and stealing the alcohol, Aritonang said.

Police arrested Afrizal, his three friends and the two security guards for allegedly mobbing Purwo, he said.

He said the six suspects would face a maximum of nine years in jail should they be found guilty.

Police had also questioned six people, including employees of the store, he added. (cst)