Security guard to get award for foiling robbery attempt

JAKARTA (JP): City Police plan to present an award to the security guard at the Egyptian embassy who lost two fingers on his left hand in a fight with men attempting to rob a woman passerby on Saturday night.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said on Monday that the 66-year-old security guard, M. Dasir, was slashed in the head and fingers by one or more of five hoodlums on Jl. Penataran Ujung, Menteng district, in Central Jakarta as he tried to prevent the men from robbing the woman, a supermarket employee.

"We will give him money and a certificate in appreciation of his boldness in fighting robbers," Abubakar said.

He said that police have identified the hoodlums. "We are hunting them. I hope the men will be arrested soon," he said.

Dasir, who was riding his bicycle from his home on Jl. Pegangsaan in Central Jakarta to the embassy on Jl. Teuku Umar, also in Central Jakarta, stopped as he saw the woman being surrounded by the five men. Dasir asked the men not to disturb the woman.

Enraged by Dasir's request, the men slashed Dasir's head and cut his fingers with machete. Some of them took Dasir's bicycle to escape. Dasir was left lying on the ground.

Passers-by and local residents rushed the victim to the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital. Police found the bicycle not far from the scene of the crime.

Dasir told reporters in his residence yesterday he appreciated the plan to give him an award.

"I'm proud and thankful to the police. I helped the woman merely because, as a human being, I should help her," he said.

The father of 11 children said if he gets money from the police he would spend it for his hospital treatment of Rp 200,000 (US$85.1). "I borrowed that much money from a neighbor to pay the hospital," he said.

Asked whether the embassy would help him pay the bill, he replied, "I don't think the embassy will pay the hospital bill for me."

He said he earns Rp 140,000 a month take-home pay, adding that he has been working for the embassy for 10 years and six months.

"For an old security guard, the amount is enough. I can't get another job," said the grandfather of 18 grandchildren. (jun)