Pedicab drivers mourn friend's death

JAKARTA: The National Pedicab Drivers Union condemned on Saturday a raid against pedicab drivers by North Jakarta Municipal public order officers which caused the death of a pedicab driver.

The union, which is an affiliate of the Urban Poor Consortium, urged the police to investigate the death of Abdul Acim who was reportedly beaten by the officers during the raid on Aug. 2.

Acim was netted at about 2 a.m. while driving his pedicab in Koja area, North Jakarta. He and his pedicab were then loaded into the municipal truck, the union said in a statement on Saturday.

In the truck Acim was beaten by the officers and pushed out of the truck. The victim was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital but later died due to severe head injuries.--JP