Two arrested for motorcycle thefts

JAKARTA (JP): Two men were arrested separately in East Jakarta on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to steal motorcycles.

During police questioning, the two suspects, identified as Suyadi and Riawanto, claimed to be members of the military, a police source said yesterday.

Suyadi claimed to be a member of a military transportation unit here and the other suspect claimed to be a member of a cavalry unit, said the source.

As of yesterday afternoon, the two were being held separately at the East Jakarta Police precinct and Jakarta Police Headquarters.

According to the police source, who asked for anonymity, Suyadi was arrested at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, while Riawanto at about 11:30 p.m.

Suyadi was arrested after allegedly trying to steal a motorcycle owned by Deddy Darmansyah. The motorcycle was parked in front of the Jatinegara market in East Jakarta, the source said.

Deddy, who reportedly saw Suyadi trying to start the motorcycle, quickly ran after him and screamed for help, the police said.

An angry crowd beat up Suyadi before handing him over to the East Jakarta Police precinct.

Riawanto was arrested by members of the Air Force at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base in East Jakarta while allegedly trying to enter the air base on a stolen motorcycle, the police said.

He claimed to have obtained the bike from a motorist he stopped near Prumpung Bridge in Jatinegara. Passing himself off as a police officer, he said he accused the motorcyclist, later identified as Sigit Sugianto, of having violated a traffic regulation.

According to the source, Riawanto hit the victim, a resident of a police dormitory in Cipinang, before taking his motorcycle and driving to Halim, where he was arrested for entering the restricted area without proper identification.

The Air Force then handed him over to city police, who had received a report from the motorcycle's owner.

Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang confirmed the arrests yesterday but refused to comment further.

"We're still contacting the related bodies to check whether the two suspects are really military members," he said.

If they prove to be soldiers, they will be handed over to the military police for further investigation, said Aritonang.

The police spokesman, however, did not explain why it would take time to confirm the suspects' status given the technology of today. (cst)