Reporters robbed aboard minivan

JAKARTA (JP): Two reporters and two other passengers were robbed of belongings worth about Rp 4 million (US$500) by a gang of five young men who boarded their public minivan near Jatinegara railway station in East Jakarta early on Wednesday morning.

The two reporters, identified as Emmy Fitri of The Jakarta Post and Dwi Argo Santoso of Suara Pembaruan, and the other two passengers were on their way from Salemba in Central Jakarta to Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta at 4:10 a.m.

When they stopped outside the railway station, five young men aged between 18 and 20 years old boarded the van. One sat in the front next to the driver and the other four took seats in the rear section of the vehicle, Emmy explained.

"Suddenly one of the five shouted 'Go' and the youth sitting in the front seat threatened the driver with a knife while the other four grabbed all they could get their hands on, including wristwatches, necklaces and bags from the frightened passengers.

"My bag containing a mobile phone, three automatic teller machine (ATM) cards, a wristwatch, Rp 500,000 in cash and other important things, including my press cards, was taken by the criminals," she said.

"We (the four victims) were told we would be killed if we put up any resistance," she added.

"At first Argo refused to hand over his wallet to the crooks so they slashed him with a dagger," Emmy said.

Fortunately the dagger was blunt and he was not severely wounded, she said.

The crime was reported to the East Jakarta Police station but police officers were unable to trace the robbers. (hhr)