Tanri latest street crime victim

Tanri latest street crime victim

JAKARTA (JP): Street criminals on the prowl for vehicle side
mirrors practice a strict nondiscrimination policy.

Finding out the identity of the car owner is not a priority.
Whether the occupant is a VIP or regular citizen does not enter
into their single-minded pursuit of the prized mirrors.

Case in point is an attempted robbery on Saturday afternoon at
the traffic light in front of Mal Ciputra shopping center in
Grogol, West Jakarta.

On the receiving end of the adverse experience was none other
than State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri
Abeng.

Six people surrounded his official shiny dark blue Volvo sedan
and attempted to steal the side mirrors at about 2 p.m.

"Pak Tanri was alone with his driver when the culprits
surrounded the car," the minister's deputy for communications,
Sofyan A. Djalil, told The Jakarta Post.

It is just one more incident in the nationwide crime wave
which has prompted security authorities to issue a shoot-on-sight
order against suspected criminals.

According to Sofyan, one of the culprits was caught by Tanri's
driver, who is apparently a police officer.

"The other five managed to flee," he added.

Jakarta Police detectives chief Col. Alex Bambang Riatmojo
confirmed the incident but insisted that Tanri, who became a
minister after a successful business career, was not in the car.

"His driver, Komang Rai, was driving the car alone from the
Grand Hyatt hotel (Central Jakarta). Pak Tanri wasn't inside the
car."

Alex said the people were about to steal the mirrors when
Komang jumped out of the car, bearing official license plate B
2447 BS.

"One of them was caught and later detained by the police for
legal procedures."

Alex said he previously instructed West Jakarta police
detectives to rid the area of street criminals following public
complaints about robberies and extortion at the Grogol
intersection.

"Our men will soon be concentrated there to anticipate such
brazen acts."

Less than 24 hours earlier, police shot dead an alleged side
mirror thief.

The suspect, identified as Ahmad, alias Samson, 25, died from
gunshot wounds to his leg and chest. He was caught red-handed
attempting to pull off side mirrors of an Opel Blazer driven by
Partoyo in Pecenongan, Central Jakarta, at about 11 p.m. on
Friday. (rei/emf/bsr)