Two arrested for alleged rape

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested two men as suspects in the gang rape of a 20-year-old female college student at her boardinghouse in North Jakarta.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said Wednesday that the men, together with a third who is still at large, allegedly raped EH, an economic institute student, on July 2.

The woman reported the assault to the North Jakarta Police the following day.

"After a thorough investigation, we managed to arrest two of the suspects, identified as Usman, 40, and M. Mardji, 25, in separate raids Monday night," Aritonang said.

Usman, a construction worker, was arrested at his house in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, and Mardji, an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver, was taken into custody in Grendeng subdistrict, Tangerang.

"Usman was once hired by the owner of the boardinghouse, Mrs. Wawa, to do some construction work there. He then duplicated the keys of the boardinghouse," Aritonang said.

On the day of the incident, Usman and his friends allegedly planned to burgle the boardinghouse at about 2 p.m.

"Failing to find valuable things to steal, they raped EH, who was sleeping when they entered her room," he said.

Mrs. Wawa found EH half naked, bruised and unconscious at about 3:45 p.m. the same day.

With the help of neighbors, EH was taken to Griya Medika hospital in North Jakarta for medical treatment.

Police are still searching for the other suspect. "The two suspects are currently detained at North Jakarta police precinct," Aritonang added. (edt)