Wed, 14 Aug 1996

Six arrested for robbery on bus

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested six men for robbing bus passengers in Central Jakarta.

Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said the men -- identified as Ayut, 32, Andi Irnanto, 24, Palma Oloan Siregar, 29, Oki, 20, Helmi Firdaus, 24 and Dody Palosi, 25 -- operated on two different buses on different routes.

"They appear to be bus robbery specialists," Abubakar said yesterday.

He said Ayut and Andi were arrested on Monday night after they stole a gold necklace and a bracelet worth Rp 1.25 million (US$531) from a passenger on a bus going down Jl. Gunung Sahari in Central Jakarta. Ayut pointed a knife at Yusnani while Andi grabbed her jewelry.

Yusnani reported the crime at a nearby police subprecinct after the men escaped.

The police chased and caught them shortly after.

The other men were also arrested on Monday night after stealing a wallet containing Rp 47,000 from a passenger on a bus on Jl. Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta.

The victim, Hari Ardiansyah, reported the theft and the police managed to arrest the men before they left the area. (jun)