Saleswoman beaten in foiled mugging

JAKARTA (JP): A medical equipment saleswoman was seriously injured on Thursday in an attempted mugging at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta.

Hospital security officer Sumardi said Tris Yulianti Gunawan, 25, suffered a fractured skull after a man, identified as Kusnadi, hit her repeatedly with a 50-centimeter-long wooden club. He was angered because she refused his demand for money to pay for a friend's medical treatment.

The two were alone inside an elevator leading to the radiology ward on the second floor of the hospital when the assault occurred, said Sumardi, who later took Kusnadi into custody. He described the 27-year-old man as a "thug".

Sumardi quoted the victim as saying that she was forced into the elevator by Kusnadi, who tried to extort money from her and began hitting her with the club, wrapped in newspaper, as he attempted to grab her purse.

A doctor passing by the elevator was alerted by her screams and went to her assistance. Kusnadi tried to flee but was caught by hospital visitors. They beat him up before handing him over to the hospital's security officers.

He was later taken into custody by officers from Senen Police for further questioning. (06)