Italian and his wife fall victim to taxi robbery

Italian and his wife fall victim to taxi robbery

JAKARTA (JP): An Italian and his Indonesian wife were robbed
and assaulted early Wednesday morning in the latest in a spate of
robberies involving taxi drivers working in tandem with
criminals, police said.

"When they reached Jl. Casablanca in a Tiffany taxi from
somewhere near Tanamur Discotheque in Tanah Abang, Central
Jakarta, the taxi was stopped by two men at about 12:30 a.m.,"
City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said Wednesday.

The taxi driver and the robbers absconded with Rp 300,000 and
S$1,000 in cash and two wristwatches after assaulting the
passengers, he said.

The Italian, identified as Angelio Denescio, 34, who works in
Switzerland, sustained injuries to the right side of his stomach
and thighs, while his wife, Chiquita Venny de Thenollid, 27, was
hurt in her head and stomach. They were returning to their home
in Menteng Dalam Raya, South Jakarta.

No information was available on the activities of the couple
here.

Both victims were treated at MMC Hospital, Kuningan, South
Jakarta.

"The victims were dropped by the robbers in the Tomang area in
West Jakarta. They were blindfolded with plastic tape.

"They were then taken by passersby to get medical treatment at
Sumber Waras hospital, West Jakarta. A few hours later they were
transferred to MMC Hospital in South Jakarta."

The police are searching for suspects.

On Sunday, two Russian tourists were robbed of US$12,000 in
cash by a taxi driver and accomplices in Cengkareng, West
Jakarta. The police arrested three suspects yesterday.

There have been at least 10 police reports of taxi robberies
in the past three months. Investigations have confirmed that two
of these were committed by the taxi drivers. (edt)