Japanese diplomat robbed in hotel

JAKARTA: An unidentified man robbed a Japanese diplomat in his room at a five-star hotel on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta on Friday night, grabbing two laptop computers and Rp 4.8 million in cash.

The victim, identified as Miyakawa, a member of staff of the Japanese Consulate in Medan, North Sumatra, had just entered his room on the hotel's nine floor at about 7:20 p.m., when he was held up at gunpoint by the robber, chief of the Central Jakarta Police precinct Snr. Comr. Edmon Ilyas told reporters on Saturday.

The culprit, who was dressed neatly, threatened the victim in English not to shout and handcuffed him before taking his computers and the money.

Els Ramadhinta, public relations officer of Sari Pan Pacific Hotel confirmed the robbery.

"We will leave it to the police to investigate the case." Els said.

She suspected that the weapon used in the robbery might have been fake, "if it was real, the metal detector would have detected it." --JP