Man arrested for pickpocketing

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)