Extortionists beaten to death

JAKARTA (JP): Two alleged criminals were mobbed and beaten to death after being caught red-handed extorting money from a minibus passenger on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta on early Tuesday.

Severe wounds caused by blunt objects were found on most parts of the bodies of Hamdan, 22, and his unknown accomplice, according to a source at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

West Jakarta Police chief of detectives Maj. Idham Azis confirmed the incident and added that the two suspects were mobbed by local residents and passers-by in a small alley in Kampung Bali.

"When police arrived at the site, the two were already dead," he said.

According to him, the suspects earlier pretended to be passengers of a public minibus plying the Cengkareng-Tangerang route which only had one passenger on board.

After getting in to the vehicle, one of the crooks approached the lone passenger, later identified as Agus Setyawan.

"While one of them pointed his knife at the passenger, his accomplice tried to pull out Agus' wallet," Idham said.

Instead of giving up his wallet, which contained only Rp 2,000, Agus screamed for help.

His scream scared the driver who then pulled the minibus over in front of an alley, which attracted a group of local residents.

The people then got in to the vehicle and badly beat up the two suspected extortionists, who apparently had no chance to fight back. (emf)