Photojournalist intimidated

Photojournalist intimidated

TANGERANG (JP): A resident of Cipondoh district has reported the chief of the nearby Bugel subdistrict to police for terrorizing his family.

Robin Ong, 38, a photojournalist from the banned Tempo magazine, told the Tangerang police on Monday that the Bugel chief, Mulyadi, had threatened his family at least two times.

"The man has threatened to kill me, my husband and children," Robin's wife told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Mulyadi first intimidated him on the phone on Sunday morning. Several hours later, according to Robin, the village chief came along with two thugs and banged on his gate. Robin lives in the Banjarwijaya housing complex in Cipondoh.

The three asked for Robin, leaving only after Robin's maid was sent to tell them her employer was not in.

"They scared my wife and children," Robin said.

Robin said the village chief might have been angry about his letter recently printed in the Bisnis Indonesia daily.

In his letter, Robin complained about the regular floods inundating his karaoke room.

Mulyadi was unable to be reached for comment yesterday.

Tangerang Municipality Chief Djakaria Machmud told the Post on Tuesday that he wanted the case settled outside of court.

"I'll ask the village chief to reconcile," Djakaria said. (bsr/18)