Journalist has a bright idea

JAKARTA (JP): A freelance journalist earned some first-hand experience on Wednesday when the two hoodlums he was interviewing for an article on urban crime robbed him of Rp 1.2 million ($535), police said yesterday.

Irwanto had just completed his interview when the thugs demanded at knife point that he give up his money, a wrist watch, three pairs of sunglasses and forced him to give them a ride from Jl. Sudirman to Grogol via Lapangan Banteng.

Irwanto said he was in the middle of his piece when he decided to go to Lapangan Banteng park, Central Jakarta, to talk to the hoodlums that hang out there after midnight.

Spokesman for the city police Lt. Col. Bambang Permantoro said Irwanto was doing the interview while cruising in a van around the city.

The thugs, Bambang said, were willing to give the interview for money. When the interview was finished, the thugs refused the money and, instead, robbed Irwanto on Jl Sudirman.

Then the two men demanded they be returned to Lapangan Banteng. But on arrival at the park, they asked to be taken to the Citra Land business complex in West Jakarta, where the hoodlums were nabbed after the freelancer screamed for help, Antara reported.

Bambang identified the thugs only as YR, 19, and CA, also 19. (pan)