Three robbers posing as police officers arrested in Palmerah

JAKARTA (ANTARA) — Police have arrested three robbers in the Palmerah area of West Jakarta who carried out criminal acts by posing as Indonesian National Police (Polri) officers.

Deputy Police Station Chief AKP Imam told reporters in Jakarta on Monday that the three men, identified by the initials D, M, and H, who were known to operate in the S. Parman and K. S. Tubun areas, were arrested on Tuesday, 19 May.

Imam said the suspects’ modus operandi involved cornering victims while they were driving, then claiming to be police officers and searching their belongings. Victims, frightened, typically handed over their belongings, such as bags, to be searched by the suspects. Then, at the opportune moment, the suspects fled the scene with the victims’ valuables.

Police launched a manhunt following reports of the crimes, leading to the arrest of the three men on Tuesday, 19 May, at different locations.

During questioning, Imam said the suspects admitted to committing six similar crimes in the Palmerah area.

In their operations, the suspects did not carry fake IDs or weapons. “The suspects merely threatened victims by pretending to be police, feigning they had weapons when they did not,” Imam said.

The proceeds from their crimes were used by the suspects to cover daily expenses.

The suspects face charges under Article 479 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on robbery, which carries a maximum prison sentence of nine years.