Ex-cop extorts unwitting victims

JAKARTA: The police arrested a former policeman, identified as Suprayitno, whose last rank was that of adjutant commissioner, on Tuesday for allegedly extorting people while claiming to be a serving officer. The police also seized a fake police ID card stating that his rank was adj. sr. comr.

"The man was dismissed from the police force in 1989 for desertion," Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said on Wednesday.

Along with Suprayitno, police also apprehended suspected accomplices of Dedy Setiandi, Antonius and Ibin, who claimed to be journalists for lesser-known media such as Warta Post or Garda Republik.

The group claimed it had committed extortion only four times and successfully reaped a total of Rp 2.53 million (US$298) in cash and home appliances.

Salempang said this month the police had recorded 13 instances of robbery and extortion in which the suspects claimed to be police officers.

"Investigation of seven of the 13 cases has been completed at police stations," he said. -- JP