Police nab 34 buskers

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A total of 34 street musicians were arrested at three different places on Thursday evening for alleged offenses such as mugging and extortion, in which motorists and public transportation passengers were targeted.

"We arrested them following complaints from the public about the extortion and mugging, which targeted passengers and motorists, by those pretending to be street musicians," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said on Friday.

The 34 suspects were nabbed at the Coca-Cola intersection in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) intersection in Cawang, East Jakarta, and the Tomang intersection in Grogol, West Jakarta.

The three are among the most crime-infested locations in the capital.

"We're questioning them for disturbing public order, under article 504 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of three months in jail," Prasetyo said.

However, Prasetyo added that if the police found they had been involved in other crimes like extortion or mugging, they could be charged with robbery under article 365 of the Criminal Code, or extortion under articles 335 and 336, which respectively carry maximum nine-month and two-year sentences.

Police also seized 13 guitars during the arrest.

Prasetyo said police would carry out similar raids targeting street crime suspects sometime in the near future, at several locations in Jakarta.