Three Turks nationals detained for robbery
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Three Turkish nationals are being questioned by the police in connection with a money changer robbery on Jl. Gunung Sahari in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.
Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Sukrawardi Dahlan said on Friday that police were questioning the suspects, identified as Osman Yildirim, 40, Yalcin Ocer, 63, and Ongan alias Guven, 37, to find out whether they were members of an organized gang or if they just ran out of money and decided to rob a money changer.
"We are detaining them to find out their motive and whether they have accomplices. We also want to know how often they conduct similar crimes," Sukrawardi told The Jakarta Post.
Sukrawardi added that they would complete the case files of the three suspects and submit them to prosecutors as soon as possible.
The three suspects, who hail from Istanbul, arrived by car at a money changer belonging to T. Indra Junaedi, 34, on Jl. Gunung Sahari on Tuesday afternoon.
Yildirim and Ocer entered the premises and asked to change U.S. dollar bills to rupiah. Ongan waited in the car.
An employee, identified as 28-year-old Dina Melyana, welcomed them.
While Dina was serving Yildirim, who held a US$100 bill in his hand, Ocer grabbed a pile of U.S. dollar bills from Dina's desk.
When Dina tried to grab back the bills, the money was dropped and fell to the floor.
"After several minutes of pull and push between Dina and Ocer, the money was dropped. The Turks then ran outside and fled in their car, which had been waiting," Sukrawardi said.
Realizing that the Turks had taken some of the money, Dina screamed for help, at which locals gave chase.
A patrol car passing the money changer, with the help of people in the vicinity, chased after the Turks' car.
The three suspects were apprehended after a brief chase and were taken to the police station.
Caught robbers and thieves are often been beaten to death by mobs.
Sukrawardi said the three suspects would be charged under articles 362 and 363 of the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum punishment of seven years' imprisonment.