Hoodlums attack police officer

JAKARTA (JP): City Police detectives arrested two men in the Slipi traffic light area in West Jakarta on Monday night for an attack on a police officer, the possession of a sword and extortion.

The police detective chief of violent crimes (Jatanras) Comr. Tagam Sinaga identified the suspects as Taryono and Hendrikus. Both of them are known as notorious hoodlums who have extorted money from drivers of public minivans which have stopped at the traffic lights.

Tagam said one of the hoodlums attacked Chief. Brig. Martua Gadjah with a sword after the officer warned him not to brandish the weapon in public. Martua suffered a cut on the right side of his head, but Tagam said it was not deep.

Martua and his colleague Chief. Brig. Effendi Aritonang were dining at a Padang restaurant near the Slipi junction at about 8:30 p.m. when they saw the two men brandishing a sword and demanding money from public minivan drivers.

Tagam said Martua screamed for help when he was attacked.

"Angry residents of Slipi immediately surrounded the two suspects, caught them and handed them over to the police officers," Tagam said.

Martua was admitted to the Kramat Jati police hospital in East Jakarta. (ylt)