Man arrested for pickpocketing

JAKARTA (JP): A 31-year-old pickpocket was caught by a City Hall official on Monday for allegedly snatching the latter's mobile phone as he was about to get off a Kopaja minibus on Jl. Kebon Sirih in Central Jakarta.

The pickpocket, identified as Saidi, was taken to the City Hall security post before being handed over to police officers of the Gambir police subprecinct.

During interrogation at the security post, Saidi admitted that he was accompanied by five accomplices, who managed to flee shortly after the phone's owner, Adnan, 38, caught Saidi red- handed.

"This is the first time I have ever done this," Saidi cried as he was being beaten up by some civil servants.

A wallet found in Saidi's pocket contained only his identity card and a copy of it. There was no money in it.

Saidi, a resident of Duren Tiga subdistrict in South Jakarta, said he was jobless. He used to sell goods at Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta.

Adnan, the chief supervisor of the cleaning service section, said the attempted theft took place as he was about to get off the minibus in front of City Hall. (ivy)