Two arrested for robbing taxi driver

JAKARTA (JP): Two students were arrested in Bekasi yesterday for allegedly robbing a taxi driver.

City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said that the two suspects, identified as Asrori Purwanto, 20, and Yesehel Martinus Lumalesil, 16, were caught and beaten up by a crowd in Bekasi Selatan where the crime took place.

"The two reportedly threatened a taxi driver named Warta with sharp weapons and took away a total of Rp 250,000 (US$83)," Aritonang said.

He said the two got into the taxi in the Perumnas I housing complex at around 2 a.m. yesterday and asked Warta, 26, to drive them to the Taman Galaksi housing estate, also in Bekasi.

The two staged their robbery as the taxi reached the Jaka Setia subdistrict, Aritonang said.

"Martinus, who sat in the front seat, pointed a metal ruler at the victim's waist while at the same time Asrori, who sat right behind the victim, put a machete to the victim's neck."

Martinus took Rp 170,000 from the victim's shirt pocket, he said. "That was the money the victim collected from working yesterday."

He said the victim also gave his wallet containing Rp 80,000, a driving license and the car's documents to Asrori.

After ordering the driver to stop the taxi, the suspects seized the car keys, got out of the vehicle and left the victim alone, he said.

Warta, who is a native of Kampung Rawa Bebek in Bekasi Barat, ran to a nearby mosque and asked for help from people resting there, Aritonang said.

The workers and other people searched for the two students, whose school was not identified, and found them not far from where they had left the victim, he said.

"The two, who were badly beaten up when they arrived at the Bekasi Selatan police precinct, were taken to the Bekasi hospital for treatment," Aritonang said. The two suspects were taken back to the police precinct yesterday afternoon.

He said the police were still collecting information on the robbery and the beating.

"Police will investigate the beating because it is against the law. You cannot beat anyone except in self-defense," he said.

If found guilty, those who were involved in the beating will face a maximum penalty of three months imprisonment or a Rp 300 fine.

The two students, he said, they would be charged for violating Article 365 of the Criminal Code, covering stealing accompanied by the use of weapons.

"Each of the two will face a maximum nine years imprisonment," he said. (cst)