Tanah Abang Police chief accused of backing thugs

Tanah Abang Police chief accused of backing thugs

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Tanah Abang subprecinct police chief Comr. Ahmad Rivai was
reported to the Jakarta Police on Wednesday for allegedly
supporting thugs over a land dispute in the area.

The report was made by lawyer Djunaidi, who also owns the site
in question on Jl. Karet Tengsin Raya, which faces Batavia
Apartments, Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

Djunaidi said on Wednesday that on Jan. 15 about 40 thugs
claiming to be hired by PT Duta Anggada took over his site by
attacking two security men there, Syarifuddin and Yunsri.
Syarifuddin broke his arm in the attack, while Yunsri suffered a
fractured skull.

The thugs have occupied the land ever since, denying
Djunaidi's employees access to the site.

Syarifuddin and Yunsri received medical treatment at the
hospital but Syarifuddin was reportedly unable to work after they
were discharged, due to his injuries.

"Police officers from Tanah Abang subprecinct, who were
deployed to deal with the attack, did nothing. Not one officer
prevented the attack or arrested the attackers," said Djunaidi.

On Jan. 30, Djunaidi reported the assault to the Central
Jakarta Police, but he claimed that the police did not
investigate the incident.

Policemen from Tanah Abang subprecinct erected a cordon around
the locked entrance to the site on March 2. They claimed it was
necessary following action by West Jakarta Police precinct and
the Jakarta Police in arresting thugs, operations related to
another assault at Stadium discotheque, West Jakarta, on March 1.

"Some of my employees once spotted that thugs were on the
land, behind the police cordon, even though the police banned us
from entering the site. They are acting unfairly," said Djunaidi.

Ahmad Rivai did not answer his cell phone when The Jakarta
Post tried to contact him for comment.