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)