Police quiz drivers in robbery case
Abdul Khalik and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta, Jakarta
Police investigators questioned on Thursday two drivers from taxi company Blue Bird Group as witnesses in a robbery that took place on Monday night.
"Yes, we are questioning several witnesses in the case, including taxi drivers of the Blue Bird Group," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono told The Jakarta Post.
He did not reveal the identifies of the drivers who were questioned.
Tjiptono said police had yet to conclude whether the cab used in the crime belonged to the Blue Bird Group or another company.
In her police complaint, Ellaide Rumiaty Tampubolon, 37, a resident of Jl. Bangka in Mampang, South Jakarta, said she was robbed by four people inside a Blue Bird taxi at about 11:45 p.m. on Monday. She gave the taxi number as JJ 4434.
The Blue Bird Group has denied one of its cabs was involved in the robbery, saying the taxi in question returned to its pool in Bintaro, South Jakarta, at 10:17 p.m.
Several other taxi companies have painted their cabs with the same dark blue color used by Blue Bird, including Simpati taxi and President taxi.
Ellaide reported that the robbers assaulted her and made off with Rp 5,074,000 in cash, some of which she was forced to withdraw from an ATM, US$100, a watch, necklace and a Nokia 6690 cellular phone.
Although this was not the first time a taxi passenger has been targeted by robbers, the incident caused fresh concern for residents in the capital, especially those who depend on taxis for their day-to-day transportation.
"I use taxis every day to get to work and go home because I cannot use my car with the three-in-one traffic policy. I have no other choice but take a taxi since I do not trust the safety of public buses," said Maria Margaretha, an accountant with a financial company at the Jakarta Stock Exchange building on Jl. Sudirman.
Lilies, who works in West Jakarta, said she would ask colleagues, especially men, who travel in the same direction to share a taxi home with her.
"I do not think it is safe to travel alone at night in a taxi, especially for women," she said.
Blue Bird Group spokesman Riva Lazuardi said the victim of Monday's robbery, Ellaide, had visited the company's taxi pool in Bintaro, South Jakarta, to see the cab in question.
"We also introduced her to the drivers who use that car and she confirmed that they were not the ones (who robbed her)," he told the Post.
"This is a criminal act and we will allow the police to find the culprits."
He added that his company would support the police investigation in any way it could, including providing any records needed by investigators.