Police arrest boxer over alleged taxi robbery attempt

JAKARTA (JP): Mampang police detectives of South Jakarta arrested a local boxer on Saturday evening for allegedly attempting to rob a taxi driver at dagger-point on Jl. Mampang Prapatan V.

South Jakarta Police chief of detectives Maj. Ahmad Alwi identified the suspect as Tinus Nero, 32, a resident of Jl. Legoso, Pisangan subdistrict of Ciputat, Tangerang.

The victim was identified as R. Septo Suhardiyanto, 45, a driver of Blue Bird taxi with door registration number A 4012.

"The boxer, who seemed to be drunk, took the taxi from the area of Nasional University in Pejaten and asked to be driven to Mampang. Upon reaching the crime scene, he took out a small dagger and pointed it at the driver and told the latter to hand over all his cash," Ahmad said.

"The driver resisted and screamed for help. Angry residents in the area came immediately and beat the suspect very badly. Police then arrived to take him to Mampang police subprecinct."

Police confiscated the dagger as evidence.

In an unrelated development, Mampang Police detectives said they are totally in the dark on the whereabouts and identities of two men, who murdered an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver at about 2:40 a.m. on Sunday on Jl. Abdul Rochim, Kuningan Barat, Mampang Prapatan.

According to a police source, detectives have found no clues that could lead to the identification of the two suspects.

"The murderers were after the driver's wallet containing only Rp 10,000 and his Honda Astrea motorcycle," said the detective who requested for anonymity.

He said that one of the suspects had taken the ojek from the Mampang Prapatan area, and asked to be driven to the crime scene where his accomplice waited.

While one grabbed the driver's wallet, the other had his hand on the driver's motorcycle, the detective said.

"When the victim resisted to give up his wallet, one suspect took out his machete and struck hard on the victim's stomach... and then on the right thigh. The victim screamed for help, as his intestines started to loosen out of his stomach," the detective said.

The victim's cries were heard by two nearby security guards, Nuryadi and Bustomi, who chased after the suspects.

"The suspects got away... the guards rushed back to help the victim. He was loosing too much blood. The victim died at the scene." (ylt)