Number of foreigners arrested up in 1999

JAKARTA (JP): Ninety-six foreigners were arrested last year for various crimes ranging from robberies, drug-related incidences, overstays, violence, murder, rape, possession of weapons, prison escapes and kidnapping, an officer of the police information unit said.

"There were only 70 foreigners netted in 1998. The hike in criminal activities by foreigners is probably due to an increase in drug and gun-related crimes," Col. Saleh Saaf said on Thursday.

Last year started with an attempted armed robbery by Senegal national Tony Z. Bedford, 26, who snatched a gun from a security guard of the Plaza Indonesia branch of Bank International Indonesia (BII), in Central Jakarta, and attempted to hold up the bank customers on Jan. 12.

Korean national Lee Kui Po, 44, was arrested on Feb. 5 for alleged possession of a Black Guardian revolver without a permit in Bandung, West Java.

Six days later, Thai national Prayong Dokman, 28, killed another Thai citizen, identified as Chariya Phenggharon, in Irian Jaya.

Three Pakistanis identified as Malik Ishtiaq, 18, Ajar Ahmad, 29, and Mahmeed Saleh, 22, were arrested on Feb. 18 for suspicion of theft at a branch of telephone company PT Indosat on Jl. Tembaga in Surabaya, East Java.

Riau Police arrested on April 8 two reporters of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) London, identified as Anthony Howson, 43, and Michael Harrison, 53, for allegedly using tourist visas and reportedly giving basic journalism training at Hotel Indrapura, Riau, to a private radio service on how to cover and broadcast the general election.

Six Bangladeshis, identified as Shafiqul Islam, Ataullah Akanda, Abdul Hanif, Fazlur Rahman, Abdul Gofran and Gias Uddin Ahmed, were arrested on April 17 over fiery and provocative speeches at the Nurul Huda mosque in Kendari, Central Sulawesi.

Korean national Li Don Owoo, 40, was arrested for allegedly threatening the life of an Indonesian citizen, Johan, 26, with an electric baton at the Ngurah Rai Bypass in Denpasar, Bali.

Riau Police arrested Singaporean national Ng See Sing, 38, for allegedly severely beating an Indonesian citizen, named Natalia, at the Ginkey restaurant in Batam.

British national Virginia Catherina, 22, was arrested on June 12 for allegedly stealing from Tunisian national Renigarmier at the Artawan Hotel in Bali.

Five days later, Bali Police arrested Australian national Hetty Veriome, 69, who allegedly stole from and beat a British citizen, David G. Pasman, on Jl. Segera Waru in Denpasar.

Badung Police officers in Bali arrested on Sept. 26 Brazilian national Carlos Robert, for an alleged rape of a woman he reportedly threatened at knifepoint.

Riau Police arrested on Oct. 18 Singaporean national Chew Lian Hoee, for the alleged distribution of fake Malaysian Ringgit notes.

Jakarta Police arrested Korean national Yun Won Hee on Nov. 11 on charges of alleged kidnapping and demanding a ransom of Rp 100 million (US$13,400).

French national Betancort Arno and Danish national Neis Nielson, both convicted drug dealers, were charged on Dec. 5 with escaping from the II A division of the Kerobokan Kuta penitentiary in Bali. (ylt)