Man tried for extorting envoy
JAKARTA (JP): A homeless man appeared in the Central Jakarta District Court yesterday on a charge of extorting money from Palestinian Authority Ambassador Ribhi Awad.
The prosecutor, Roskanedi, said the extortion attempt was cut short when the ambassador shot the 24-year-old defendant, Hariyanto, in the left foot in an act of self-defense.
He alleged Hariyanto approached the ambassador after he stopped his car to change a flat tire about 9.30 p.m. near the Philippine Embassy on Jl. Imam Bonjol, in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
Roskanedi said the defendant offered to change the tire.
The ambassador agreed and provided Hariyanto with the tools he needed to change the tire. Ribhi then gave Hariyanto Rp 20,000 (US$5.7).
Roskanedi said Hariyanto was apparently dissatisfied with the payment and asked for more money.
When the ambassador refused and got into his car, the defendant reached through the car's driver-side window, which was still open, and grabbed the keys, he said.
"The ambassador had to shoot the defendant through the rear car door, hitting Hariyanto in the left foot."
The defendant managed to board a public bus and escaped, he said.
The ambassador found the keys on the ground and drove to a nearby police station to report the incident.
Roskanedi said the police arrested the defendant at midnight at Pelni Hospital in Petamburan, West Jakarta, where Hariyanto sought medical treatment for his wounded foot.
The prosecutor said Hariyanto told police that he had intentionally dropped nails on the street to flatten the tires of passing cars.
The defendant did not know that the man he tried to con was the Palestinian ambassador, he said.
Roskanedi said the defendant was charged under Article 368 of the Criminal Code and if found guilty he faces a maximum penalty of nine month in jail.
He said the court may impose the maximum penalty because the victim was a foreign ambassador.
Presiding judge Imam Purnomo adjourned the trial until next week to hear testimony from witnesses. (jun)