Foreigners report cabby for 'robbery'

JAKARTA (JP): Two foreigners had reported a Mercury taxi driver for attempting to fool and rob them on their way back to a hotel, police said.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday the two men, Andrian Kepler, 32, of Germany and Eggember Karpau, 42, of Switzerland had made the report Monday night.

"They accused the driver, identified as Tantoni, 27, of having plotted with two friends to rob them," Aritonang said.

Kepler and Karpau had asked Tastoni to drive them back to the Atlet Century Park Hotel, Central Jakarta, after dining at a Japanese restaurant on Jl. Melawai, South Jakarta.

But Tastoni had driven the two men around and stopped on Jl. Pangeran Antasari in South Jakarta instead, Aritonang said.

"The driver then called on two male friends who seemed to have waited for them there. The foreigners said the two strangers had attempted to strangle them," Aritonang said.

Police patrol officers who were passing by saved the foreigners. The two strangers fled while the driver was arrested.

Aritonang said none of the foreigners' property was stolen. (cst)