German arrested for taxi theft

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)