Soldier arrested on robbery charges
Soldier arrested on robbery charges
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A military (TNI) personnel identified as SY, 32, and a civilian
identified as SP, 34, were arrested by police and several local
residents on Wednesday evening for stealing a cellular phone from
a woman identified as Magdalena in Cibubur, East Jakarta.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said that the two
suspects were now being detained at Pasar Rebo Police station.
"We are questioning them intensively. We hope we can finish
the case file right away and send it to prosecutor because we
have all the necessary evidence," he said.
Tjiptono refused to specify the rank, or the position of the
soldier, saying that police were still waiting for confirmation
from military leaders.
Using a motorcycle, SY and SP forced Magdalena to the side of
road on Jl. Cibubur near the Cibubur shooting range in East
Jakarta, and took her cellular phone.
However, both men were very panicky and ran away immediately
as Magdalena, who was angry and surprised, screamed for help.
A policeman, who was on duty in the area, chased SY and SP and
called up his office for backup.
The two robbers were apprehended by several police officers
and local residents four kilometers from the site of the incident
on Jl. Raya Bogor, Pasar Rebo, East Jakarta.
"Neither resisted arrest as they realized they could be beaten
up by local residents," said Tjiptono.
It was revealed later that SY lived at Yon Angbekud barracks
in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, while SP lived in Gedong
subdistrict, Pasar Rebo, also in East Jakarta.
Police confiscated the cellular phone, grinded screwdriver for
key, and motorcycle with license plate B4171, as evidence.
Police have nabbed several TNI personnel recently for various
crimes, including robbery, kidnapping, drug dealing, possession
of illegal firearms and extortion.
Last week, police revealed that they were searching for at
least seven TNI personnel linked to kidnapping and extortion of a
businessman.