Gambir gets tough on ticket scalpers

JAKARTA: Thirty-strong members of a joint security team in Gambir railway station, Central Jakarta, found it difficult to arrest a ticket scalper caught in act, after a mob of thugs attacked them.

The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon, about an hour after the team started guarding ticket booths in the station and watching the line of people buying tickets for their home towns to celebrate Idul Fitri on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4.

Officers saw a man speak to a woman in the queue. He was heard offering a ticket to Surakarta at Rp 450,000, Rp 120,000 more than its official price of Rp 330,000.

As the officers took away the scalper, about 30 men approached them and tried to rescue the man. After a brief tug-of-war, the group began to hurl garbage bins and chairs at the security officers.

The scalper and his companion then fled the building.

The station said it would boost its security staff to 50 on Wednesday in operations against ticket scalpers. -- JP