Locals' lynch mob frustrated

BOGOR: Dozens of ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers and residents from Cigombong village in Bogor encircled the police station in Cijeruk on Tuesday and demanded that the police let them lynch two motorbike thieves.

They went to the police station after the police prevented them from lynching two motorbike thieves, Rudi Lesmana, 26, and Nandar Supriatna, 28, who had allegedly both tried on Monday to steal a motorbike driven by Endih, 30, a motorbike taxi driver in the area.

Endih said that on Monday night he was asked by the two to take them to Lido at an agreed payment of Rp 13,000. But soon after he started to drive the motorbike, the two tried to steal it and then ran away.

Endih shouted for help and people in the area quickly came out of their houses and mobbed the two men. But the police, who happened to pass the area on patrol, came to their rescue.

The Cigombong residents became angry as they were suspicious that the police would not deal with the alleged criminals properly. The police subsequently managed to calm them down and took the criminals to Bogor police station for further interrogation. --JP