Man questioned over swindling of Pakistanis

JAKARTA (JP): City police have started questioning a local man for his alleged role in cheating and defaming two Pakistani tourists.

Spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko told The Jakarta Post over the weekend that police detectives have found strong evidence, during their investigations, that Rauf Afero tried to cheat and frame Muhammad, 25, and Usman, 26.

Bambang gave no details about the amount of money or when and how Rauf met the two tourists.

After a series of investigations, police came to a preliminary conclusion that Rauf had allegedly borrowed an amount of cash from the two tourists, which he later refused to return when the visiting Pakistanis asked him to, they said.

Rauf then invited the two tourists to stay at his house on Jl. Gunung Sahari in Central Jakarta, the city police spokesman said.

On Sunday morning, June 11, Rauf was still unable to pay back his debt, making the two tourists angry, Bambang added.

"It's true that the Pakistanis attacked Rauf, but it's all because of his own actions," Bambang said.

Based on the assault incident, Rauf intended to lodge a formal charge, through the nearby police station, against the two tourists, for having beaten him up, he said.

But instead, Bambang said, Rauf allegedly placed several grams of heroin in the Pakistani tourists' bag, as an act of revenge.

Rauf then reported the assault incident, along with his find of heroin in their bag, to Central Jakarta police headquarters.

A number of anti-drug detectives went to the tourists' rooms and found several grams of heroin, as well as other illegal drugs, in their bags, Bambang said.

Being foreigners, the two were escorted to city police headquarters for further questioning, during which both Pakistanis refused to accept the report by Rauf.

"One of them said that he has to take Valium, under orders from his doctor," Bambang said.

During questioning, Muhammad and Usman swore that they have nothing to do with either the heroin, or the other drugs, claiming that Rauf entrapped them, he said.

Based on the information given by the tourist, city police detectives returned to the scene of the crime to investigate further, which let them to the preliminary conclusion that Rauf had allegedly tried to frame them. (bsr)