Highway robbers target truck

TANGERANG: Passengers in a trailer truck loaded with 50 tons of construction materials were robbed by a group of men while stopped at the Jakarta-Merak toll in Kebon Nanas, Tangerang, early on Friday.

Stopped by a flat tire in heavy rain at about 2 a.m., driver Ubed, 29, assistant Marjuki and two passengers were robbed by a gang of thieves.

"Four men in a Kijang minivan came and threatened us with machetes ... they took Rp 1.5 million (US$176) in cash, two cell phones and the truck away," Ubed said.

Police found the victims and the truck trailer, which was left still full by the robbers on Kilometer 14 in Karang Tengah. -- JP