Kidnappers target good-loking students

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Judging from his immaculate grooming, people's first guess would be that Hartono, 18, comes from a rich family.

It was his appearance that attracted a kidnap syndicate to abduct the Tarumanagara University freshman while he was walking alone in front of his West Jakarta campus on Dec. 2.

Jakarta Police detective chief Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang revealed on Friday that the kidnappers eventually released Hartono without getting the ransom they sought.

The teenager then led the police to the house of Deni Febrian, 26, one of the alleged kidnappers.

"We have arrested a member of a syndicate that targets university students at his house in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, last week," Salempang told reporters.

Salempang revealed that three of the syndicate members approached Hartono and accused him of being the person "who bashed their brother to death" and who had to be held to account.

The three then dragged Hartono into their waiting car. Confused, the student did not scream or run away.

They brought him to a place near a railway station somewhere in Depok. Hartono could not remember the exact place because the kidnappers prevented him from looking out the car's window while they were driving along.

"The victim said that the kidnappers forced his head down onto the floor of the car to prevent him from recognizing the road they took," Salempang added.

"While tormenting the victim, they asked questions concerning Hartono's financial background, such as who paid for his tuition fees," he said.

It turned out that Hartono was not a native Jakartan, but was from Medan, North Sumatra. He lived with his aunt in Jakarta.

The kidnappers told him to call his aunt and ask her for Rp 10 million (US$1,100) as a ransom.

Hartono's aunt reported the abduction to the police, who later suggested that she delay the ransom payment to give police time to investigate.

"Apparently the kidnappers sensed that his aunt had reported to matter to the police, and they released the victim without waiting for the ransom. They dumped him on a street in South Jakarta on the same day," Salempang said.

Hartono could only recall a place in Pasar Minggu, which turned out to be Deni's house.

The detectives waited for two full days for the suspect appear there.

Salempang added the police were still chasing four other members of syndicate, who were identified as Arjun, Anto, Lepal, and Edison.