Moroccoans arrested for holdup
Moroccoans arrested for holdup
JAKARTA (JP): Five people believed to be Moroccans have been arrested for an alleged hold up on Jakarta's most famous tourist street, Jl. Jaksa.
The five foreigners, some of whom speak Bahasa Indonesia, are currently undergoing intense questioning at the Jakarta Police Headquarters. Their six cohorts are still at large, Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Iman said that reports of hold ups on Jl. Jaksa in Central Jakarta had puzzled local police. Police are concerned about security in the area well-known to foreign tourists.
The alleged crooks were caught on Friday after local residents saw them rob an Italian tourist on Thursday.
The Moroccans tried to run from a plainclothes police officer, who saw them gathering near a restaurant catering to backpackers.
"One of the suspects tried to bribe the officer with Rp 100,000 (US$43) cash and asked the officer to let them go," Iman said.
Locals say 11 men, all believed to hold Moroccan passports, have been operating for several years as hold up men in the area, Iman recounted.
Iman said the 11 alleged criminals robbed an Italian tourist, identified as Morreno Casesio, on Jl. Jaksa at 11 p.m. on Thursday.
After threatening the Italian, the culprits stole his small bag containing his passport and US$2,000 in cash.
"The group was able to escape the local mob who heard what happened from the Italian man," Iman said.
Police then decided to field a number of plainclothes detectives in the area.
"By chance, a plainclothes officer walked down to the tourist area at around 11 p.m. on Friday and saw a group of foreigners who looked like those described by the local people the day before," Iman said.
The group ran to a car parked some meters away as the officer approached them, said Iman.
"With the help of dozens of people and officers, five of them were caught," the spokesman said.
A switchblade knife was found in the crooks' car.
The five men are Bouzsiane Fouad, Loualidriss, Bouladam Khalid, Saidi Mohammad and Saadi Hassan.
"Additional information will be available soon after the investigation is completed," Iman said.
Jl. Jaksa harbors many cheap motels. The famous street is listed in tourist guidebooks.
During the peak holiday season, the motels are always fully booked. (bsr)