Students rob bus passengers for drugs, liquor
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
The desperate need for money to buy drugs and liquor has driven three senior high school students to frequently rob and attack bus passengers.
"We had to rob the passengers because we really need the money to buy drugs and liquor. We only hurt the passengers if they refuse to give money," said Irwansyah from behind the bars at Batu Ceper Police subprecinct on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old Irwansyah, a second year student at the Giri Putra senior high school in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, was arrested along with friends Bambang, a first year student, and Andika, a third year student, of the same high school.
The three students stopped a Bulan Jaya minibus, serving the Kalideres-Balaraja route, after the vehicle left Kalideres bus station on Friday at around 10:30 a.m. Afterwards, brandishing knives they began to threaten three passengers identified as Imam Alusi, Safrudin and M. Junar and forced them to hand over their belongings which included wallets, watches, bags, jackets and Rp 30,000 (US$2.9) in cash.
One of the students stabbed Iman in the stomach who later shouted to attract the attention of other passengers. They soon jumped off the minibus and ran in the direction of Jl. Ampera.
"Coincidentally, the minibus passed Batu Ceper Police subprecinct and passengers reported the robbery. Several officers were deployed to chase them," said the subprecinct chief Insp. Endro Subagio.
Irwansyah and Andika were arrested on the same day at 12:30 p.m. not far from the crime scene but Bambang managed to escape. The police also managed to seize all the evidence along with several bottles of liquor. Bambang was finally found on Monday in Batu Ceper.
Endro said the three students already had criminal records. Irwansyah was once arrested by Tanah Abang Police for possession of sharp weapons and sentenced by the court to five months in prison. Andika and Bambang were also arrested by Tangerang Police in November last year for mobbing and wounding a school student in Tangerang.
Endro warned students to stay away from drugs and liquor.
"Once they get addicted to drugs and liquor, they will not only face health problems but also legal sanctions," he said, adding that the three students would be prosecuted as adults and not juveniles.