Injured Casmadi speaks out on taxi robbery

Injured Casmadi speaks out on taxi robbery

JAKARTA (JP): The dispute between the police and a 14-year-old boy who was exonerated by the court of attempted robbery of a taxi driver took a new twist when the taxi driver appeared and told reporters yesterday the boy stabbed him in the neck after demanding money.

"It's unfair that public money goes to a criminal while I have to wait for my colleagues to collect enough money for my medical treatment," driver Casmadi, 25, told reporters who had flocked to Cilincing police subprecinct.

According to the prosecution, 14-year-old Mohamad Arif Budi and a friend, identified as Darto, 20, tried to rob Casmadi on Jl. Raya Marunda, Cilincing, North Jakarta on July 30 of last year.

Darto and Budi asked the taxi driver to take them to Bojong, Bekasi. They ordered the driver, Casmadi, to stop on Jl. Marunda. Darto pulled a knife at Casmadi and asked for money as Budi got out of the cab. The driver refused and fought Darto, instead. Budi returned to the taxi to help Darto by stabbing Casmadi in the neck with a screwdriver, the prosecutor has told the court.

Injured in the arm and neck, Casmadi ran away and shouted "thief, thief". Darto and Budi were caught by local residents, the prosecutor said.

Darto died in police custody before Budi went on trial.

Budi was tried some weeks later, but the court believed his claim that he hadn't been aware that Darto was trying to rob Casmadi. Budi told the court he had just tried to help Darto fight the driver. He was cleared of all charges.

Budi's lawyer sued the police and demanded Rp 1 billion in compensation soon after Budi was declared not guilty by the court.

Budi's exoneration raised observers' eyebrows, as Casmadi, the driver, was never asked to testify in the trial.

The appearance of Casmadi at Cilincing police subprecinct yesterday might address public skepticism about Budi's innocence.

"No one has asked me to testify at Budi's trial," Casmadi said.

He said he had moved from his old house in Cilincing to Rawabebek, Kalibaru, also in North Jakarta. "But not a single court summons has been sent to either my old or my new address."

"A friend told me that the boy had been cleared, and that the lawyer is demanding the police pay him Rp 1 billion in compensation," Casmadi said.

He said he came to the police subprecinct of his own volition. "I came here on Saturday, but the office was closed. I decided to come back today," he said.

He said that Budi hailed his taxi. Casmadi said Budi and another, bigger fellow, later identified as Darto, asked him to take them to Cilincing and Bekasi, and back to Cilincing.

"As soon as I stopped the taxi the bigger boy grabbed my hair from behind and thrust a knife at me, asking for money. I told him I had not got much money yet," Casmadi said.

"Suddenly the boy took something out of his bag and stabbed me in the neck. I found out later he had used a screwdriver," he added.

Casmadi said both the boys ran off as he shouted for help. "I can't believe the court has exonerated this boy," he said. (bsr/sur)