Policemen discharged for robbery

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police discharged three officers from duty on Monday due to their involvement in a violent robbery on March 26. They were members of the mobile brigade division.

Jakarta Police chief, Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara, said the three officers had committed a serious crime and deserved to be punished.

He pointed out that the case would be submitted to the court soon.

On March 26, the three officers -- Second Adj. Brig. Ali Wardhana, Second Adj. Brig. Suroto and Second Adj. Brig. Khelik -- robbed Budi Setiawan on Jl. Mangga Besar IV, West Jakarta at 5:30 a.m. They stole a Nokia 8250 mobile phone, a wallet and Rp 850,000 (US$85) cash from the victim.

Local residents, who saw the incident, mobbed the officers and handed them over to the Taman Sari Police subprecinct in Central Jakarta. -- JP