Tangerang police arrest six alleged rapists

TANGERANG (JP): Police arrested six men accused of committing a number of rapes in the large park located at the Citra Raya housing complex in Cikupa, Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said on Wednesday.

Pudji identified the six, between the ages of 24 and 30, as Maulana, Syaiful Anwar, Abdul Aziz, Syaruddin, Tohiruddin and Rochmat.

"The six are currently being detained at the Cikupa Police station. We are still investigating the case in a bid to uncover other victims of the group," the officer said.

According to Pudji, the six men would spy on couples frequenting Citra Raya park late at night.

"Then they pretended to be security guards and detained the couples and threatened to expose and drag them naked out in public.

"Because the victims were terrified they offered no resistance and the group would sexually assault the women," Pudji said.

Most of the rape victims were young female factory employees, but they were too embarrassed to come forward and report the incidents to nearby police stations, the officer said.

The arrest of the six alleged rapists was made following a complaint from local resident Sutaryanto, 25, who said his girlfriend was abducted by a group of men at Citra Raya park on June 16.

"Sutaryanto said his girlfriend, SM, 18, was abducted by a group of men when the two were together at the park," Cikupa Police detective Second Lt. Deddy Irawan said.

"The gang first confronted the couple and shouted at them, accusing the two of 'being involved in an immoral act'. Sutaryanto was afraid and ended up handing over his watch and Rp 60,000 in cash," Deddy said.

The group then dragged the couple to a traffic circle near the park and stripped off their clothes.

"Right after that Sutaryanto was forced to leave the scene wearing only his underpants," the officer said.

Deddy said the gang told Sutaryanto if he asked for help they would call him a "thief", which would have caused local residents to rush out of their homes and beat him to death.

"Then the group began to rape the girl," the officer said.

The girl's hands were bound with rope and her mouth covered with tape before the six men raped her. After which she was taken to an empty house behind Cikupa market, he said.

Sutaryanto immediately reported the incident to the police, and several days later the six suspects were arrested in separate raids.

The six men reportedly have confessed to the crime. One of the suspects, Syaiful Anwar, admitted he often watched couples in the park.

"Five of my friends and I decided to harass them (Sutaryanto and SM) as they were passionately making out ... which got us excited," Syaiful said.

Syaiful said he had raped two girls at the same park, including Tum, 22, on May 12.

The other suspects also confessed to raping several girls, but they refused to provide the names of their victims, police said.

"We're still questioning the suspects," Deddy said.

Sutaryanto said he would marry his girlfriend and continue with their lives. "I love her and our families have been close to each other, so we will go through this together. I'm willing to accept and support her wholeheartedly," Sutaryanto said. (41/edt)