Painting stolen from exhibition
A painting has been stolen from an exhibit at the Stage restaurant at the Ratu Plaza shopping center in South Jakarta.
Michael, the manager of the Stage, told YThe Jakarta Post late last week that the stolen painting, entitled Grandma Moses Goes to the Tambora, was one of many works by an American artist nicknamed Tompel on display at the restaurant.
The exhibit continues through April 20.
Michael said the theft occurred last Friday afternoon, when the electricity was out.
He said he had no idea who had stolen the artwork valued at Rp 300,000 (US$140), which had just been marked sold. (jsk)
Surjadi ends slum upgrading program
In a weekend ceremony at the Ujung Menteng subdistrict office in East Jakarta, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja announced the completion of the slum upgrading program started last year.
The citywide urban renewal program was initiated as part of nationwide activities for last year's National Social Solidarity Day, which began on Dec. 20.
The program provided social services, public facilities and repaired and upgraded housing for the people living in the least developed areas of the capital.
The Solidarity Program was expected to promote a feeling of togetherness and to motivate individuals to take part in activities which involve the livelihood of many.
Of the more than Rp 4.5 billion spent on the rehabilitation program, Rp 1.5 billion was contributed by the central government, Surjadi said. The rest was obtained through community participation and donations from businessmen.
There are 11 subdistricts in Jakarta which fall under the category of least developed areas. One is in Central Jakarta, two are in West Jakarta and eight in North Jakarta. (06)
Police capture murder suspect
The Cakung police arrested a food shop owner late last week on charges of killing a thug.
Maj. Tjokorde Suyasa, chief of the Cakung police, said Friday that the murderer suspect, Wito Handoyo bin Samaun, 25, was arrested at 2 a.m. at his home, which also functions as a shop.
Wito, a resident of Rawa Teratai subdistrict, Cakung district, East Jakarta, has been charged with killing Ahmad Zaini, 24, who lived in the same neighborhood on March 4.
Ahmad's body was discovered early in the morning amid shrubbery on Jl. Raya Bekasi in front of the Pulau Gadung Steel factory, close to a truck terminal.
Police initially suspected he had been stabbed to death by one of the truck drivers working there. Ahmad, who claimed to supervise and protect the area, was known to have extorted money from the truckers frequently.
Police later discovered clues which led them to shift their suspicion to Wito.
During interrogation, Wito said he had taken vengeance upon Ahmad for all the terror and hassle the thug had imposed on him for so long. (jsk)
One-way traffic in Tn. Abang
It is nearly impossible to introduce a one-way traffic policy in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, because there are too many street traders on the roads, says a city official.
Making a bad situation worse, both drivers and passengers do not have the discipline to adhere to a one-way traffic regulation, said J.P. Sepang, the head of the City Land Transportation and Traffic Control Office over the weekend.
Sepang said he plans to couple one-way traffic in Tanah Abang with the reduction of the number of the city's traffic lights because these have the potential to engender congestion, which prompts drivers to violate a one-way traffic policy.(06)