Private company's office robbed of Rp 125 million

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's spate of robberies continued yesterday when six men pretending to be construction workers in Central Jakarta robbed the cashiers of the company they allegedly worked for of Rp 125 million (US$53,191).

City Police Spokesman Maj. Nyoman Suriasta said the six men claimed to work for PT Wira Matra Guna' office on Jl. Cempaka Putih Tengah and asked the cashiers for their wages.

"While the six entered the office another robber was waiting in the office's parking lot," Nyoman said.

The cashiers asked the men to sign on a list, but the suspects feigned confusion as their names were not there. They then threatened to kill the cashiers, and five other employees. The robbers had a gun, machetes, and swords, he said.

The suspects forced the five employees into a bathroom and locked the door before escaping with the money.

Meanwhile, a Japanese couple were robbed of Rp 400,000 (US$170) and a passport by three men in a taxi on Jl. Mawar, in Bintaro, South Jakarta.

"Another taxi approached the taxi and three men came out of the taxi demanded their bag," Nyoman said.

The police presumed the driver was involved.

The woman was stabbed in the legs and hands when she tried to resist. She was treated at Pondok Indah hospital.

Also yesterday, a taxi driver was robbed by three passengers of Rp 120,000 on Jl. Basuki Rahmat, in Cipinang, East Jakarta.

The suspects hailed the taxi and asked the driver, Marzuki, to go to Cakung, East Jakarta.

A suspect asked the driver to go back to the street where the taxi was hailed then threatened him with a machete.

The suspects asked the driver to leave the taxi and escaped in it. Police found the cab, in Tebet area, South Jakarta.

On Wednesday, a businessman was robbed of Rp 13,5 million by two men in front of his house on Jl. Gudang Peluru, also in Tebet.

Jason Ifan, with his sister Brigita Jason, had just withdrawn the money from BCA Lapangan Ros branch. Jason suffered wounds to his legs, while Brigita's left hand was stabbed.

The following day, two men robbed a PT Chandra Kanta Sentosa employee, on Jl. Cokroaminoto, in Menteng, Central Jakarta, of Rp 115 million.

The employee, Sutarman, was threatened with a gun as he and his friend, Yose, were about to leave their car. The robbers escaped on a motorcycle while firing shots into the air.

National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo said the police have set up a special team to handle armed robberies.

"The robberies which occurred in Jakarta and surrounding areas in recent weeks are connected to each other," Dibyo said at the State Palace yesterday. (jun)