Suspect caught in cafe looting spree

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police on Sunday arrested a man accused of involvement in the looting and vandalism of 170 street cafes in National Monument (Monas) Park, an officer said.

Chief of detectives Maj. Budiono Sandi said the suspect, identified as Fredy, had admitted to looting and damaging the upmarket sidewalk cafes together with four accomplices on Monday night.

Most of the cafes are owned by local entertainers.

Fredy told police he and his friends were hired to guard the cafes, but had yet to receive their monthly wages from the cafes' management chaired by businessman Amijaya.

"Fredy said that he and his friends were angry because they were not paid," Budiono said.

They visited Amijaya's office to request their wages and an Idul Fitri bonus, but the businessman was unavailable.

Amijaya's wife met with them and said the company had already been closed down, Budiono explained.

The men returned to Monas park in a truck and stole dishes, glasses, tables and chairs from the cafes, he said.

"Besides the five men, other people also stole the property that night."

On Thursday, the men returned to set fire to a cafe owned by movie star Roy Marten, Budiono said.

All street cafe owners were required to pay the site manager Rp 5,000 daily for security.

They also paid 15 percent of their daily takings to the site manager.

The Monas park cafes were set up by the Indonesian Artists Cooperative, chaired by Amijaya, last Aug. 22. and inaugurated by Governor Sutiyoso.

On Friday, Budiono said the crime was committed by 20 men hired to guard the cafes because they had not received Idul Fitri bonuses.

Television actor Mark Sungkar, who also owns a cafe at the site, said Amijaya had recruited at least 20 men, mostly local hoodlums, to guard the area.

It is unclear why only Marten's cafe was set on fire. (jun)