Woman nearly loses fingers in robbery

JAKARTA (JP): A woman nearly had three of her fingers severed when a robber attacked her with a sickle at the Buncit Mas office complex in Pancoran, South Jakarta, on Friday afternoon.

Pancoran Police chief Adj. Comr. Wiyarso said the victim, Nurul Aini, 25, who works in the financial division of a subcontracting firm located in the office complex, was robbed in front of her office.

He said the robbery happened so quickly the victim's colleague, Margono, and driver Cecep, who were present at the scene, were unable to react.

"Cecep and Margono told police that they were dumbfounded by what was happening and did not dare get out of the car. After the incident, they immediately rushed the victim to the MMC Hospital in Kuningan (South Jakarta)," Wiyarso said.

Accompanied by Margono, Nurul had withdrawn US$25,000 from a bank in the Landmark Building in Central Jakarta. The two were driven to the bank in a Suzuki Katana jeep by Cecep.

Upon reaching her office at about 12:30 p.m., the victim stepped out of the vehicle. The second she was out of the jeep, two men on a Yamaha RX King motorcycle drove up to her, took out a sickle and ordered her to hand over the bag containing the money, Wiyarso said.

"She refused and the two robbers and her began to struggle over the bag, like a game of tug-of-war. That was the victim's mistake. The robbers became frustrated and one of them sliced her hand with the sickle. Three of her fingers were nearly severed."

Wiyarso said that after taking the money, the robbers fled on their motorcycle, along with two other accomplices who had been waiting on another motorcycle in front of Nurul's office.

"Obviously, the victim's moves had been studied by the four robbers for some time," Wiyarso said. (ylt)