Journalist has a bright idea

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)