Police bust robber gang

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police announced on Tuesday they had nabbed a gang of robbers targeting vacationers, who had often drugged victims before stripping them of valuables.

The robbery suspects, Yulianto, 28, Wardi, 31 and Syamsul Alam, 35, were apprehended in separate locations in Cakung and Sunter in North Jakarta early on Tuesday.

City police detectives chief Sr. Comr. Muhammad Jaelani said the gang had committed at least 30 robberies in the past 18 months.

"The suspects, who always pretend to be bus or train passengers, drug their victims by offering them free drinks mixed with CTM tablets and lexotant (bromazepam) pills. Afterwards, they snatch the possessions from the drowsy victims," Jaelani said.

Under police questioning, the suspects admitted they were behind the robbery of bus passenger Irwan Irawan, 37, who traveled from Palembang to Bandung in West Java on Monday.

They stole the victim's cell phone and Rp 300,000 in cash. --JP