German arrested for taxi theft

JAKARTA (JP): Kebayoran Baru Police detectives arrested late on Tuesday night a German man alleged to have stolen a Dian taxi and physically abused its driver last month.

Kebayoran Lama Police chief Adj. Comr. Sihombing said the theft occurred at 1 a.m. on May 27 and his men managed to arrest the suspect, Hubert Linter, 40, on Tuesday night at the Lintas Melawai bar in Block M area, South Jakarta.

On the night of the incident, Sihombing said, Linter and two Indonesian female friends hailed the Dian taxi, driven by Barlin Lubis, 26, in Melawai area and asked Barlin to drive them to Djakarta Theater on Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta.

"Barlin drove them in that direction until, near Jl. Trunojoyo, the suspect suddenly put his strong arms around the victim's neck and squeezed, saying 'Saya ini bule gila!' (I am a crazy foreigner)," Sihombing said.

The victim and both women became frightened and got out of the taxi. Linter then fled in the vehicle.

The taxi was found on the afternoon of May 27 parked in the Plaza Sarinah parking area on Jl. MH Thamrin, near Djakarta Theater.

"We began to watch Linter and finally arrested him at the Lintas Melawai Bar and Cafe in South Jakarta," Sihombing said. (ylt)