Humpuss Group employee robbed of Rp 34 million

JAKARTA (JP): A Humpuss Group employee reported to the police that two unidentified men robbed him of Rp 34 million (US$14,592) yesterday at a traffic light on Jl. Ridwan Rais, in Central Jakarta.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira told reporters Yanto said that one of the robbers approached him and pointed a gun at his head when he was on a motorcycle. The traffic light was red when the incident took place, Yanto was quoted by Abubakar as saying.

"Yanto said the man grabbed his bag containing the money before escaping with the other man, who was waiting on a motorcycle," Abubakar said.

He said, however, that the police officers who are handling the case are a bit doubtful about the truth of the victim's statement.

Yanto, who had just withdrawn the money from the head office of Bank Duta on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, reported that he was pushed down by one of the men at the traffic light. But the police did not find any damages to Yanto's motorcycle, Abubakar said.

He added that the victim reported to the police station near the scene of the crime that he was robbed at 1.30 p.m but there are no witnesses to the incident.

"None of the police officers who usually patrol near the scene knew of the incident. This is a little bit strange," he said.

Yanto is now being held at the Central Jakarta Police precinct for questioning.

According to him, the money was the salaries of the company's employees.

Over the past two months, at least four robberies have taken place involving people who have just withdrawn money from banks in the city.

On Aug. 1, Betty, a 66-year-old woman, was robbed by two unidentified men, one armed with a gun, of Rp 40 million after she had withdrawn the money from the Bank BNI on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta. She was robbed in front of her house on Jl. Bulungan in South Jakarta after being followed by the two men.

Christa R. Siahaan, a Ministry of Health employee, was robbed by two unidentified men of jewelry worth Rp 9 million and Rp 21 million in cash in front of a restaurant on Jl. Kramat Raya on Aug. 29. She was followed by the two men after she withdrew the money from the Matraman branch of Bank BNI in East Jakarta.

The following day, Siswanto, a member of staff at the office of the State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, was robbed by two unidentified men of Rp 110 million in cash in the parking lot of the office, on Jl. Asia Afrika in Central Jakarta. He had just withdrawn the money from the Senayan branch of Bank BNI.

On Sept. 6, two unidentified armed men robbed a bank customer of Rp 20 million in cash in the parking lot of a leasing company building on Jl. Juanda, Central Jakarta.

The victim, Andreas Hutagalung, had just withdrawn the money from the branch of Bank BNI on Jl. Cut Mutia, in Central Jakarta.

All the robbers are still at large. (jun)