Red Axe members arrested

JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested on Thursday two of three members of a notorious street robbery gang known as the Red Axe in Cempaka Putih district, Central Jakarta. Police apprehended them as they were running away with Rp 220,000 in cash and a cellular phone belonging to bus passengers.

Cempaka Putih Subprecinct Police detective chief Second Insp. Aria Pradana said on Friday the suspects, identified as Parto, 39, and Johny Padepotan, 31, both residents of Kayu Putih subdistrict in Pulogadung, East Jakarta, were captured by local residents after the victims yelled for help.

The other suspect, Rizal, managed to escape along with the victims' belongings.

Aria said the three suspects got into the Metromini bus plying the Senen-Taman Solo route. They brandished a red axe and a knife as they demanded the belongings of Restu Teguh Dewanti, 31, an employee of Hotel Cempaka, and her younger sister as the bus was passing Tip Top supermarket on Jl. Cempaka Putih Tengah.

"But as soon as the robbers alighted from the bus, Restu screamed and people at the scene surrounded the robbers and beat them up," Aria said. (01)