Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar
Officials in the South Sulawesi capital Makassar say they have arrested two men on suspicion of operating an organized begging ring in the city.
According to officials, the men transported children from outside Makassar into the city every day to beg at major intersections.
The money the children collected was then handed over to the men. Those who failed to turn over enough money faced the threat of violence.
The operation was uncovered earlier this week by an integrated team in charge of dealing with beggars and street children in the city. Members of the team nabbed the two suspects, Sampara and Daeng Sila, both residents of Jeneponto regency, as they were dropping off a group of children at a major intersection in Makassar.
""We suspected beggars and street children in the city were being organized, but we did not know who was behind it. Now we have managed to arrest two of the perpetrators,"" Makassar Social Services Office head Ibrahim Saleh said Wednesday.
Ibrahim, who is also head of the integrated team dealing with street children, said the arrest of Sampara and Sila was a matter of luck. The two were spotted by public order officers who happened to be in the area.
The suspects were herding a group of 31 poorly dressed children. Officers had no difficulty apprehending the two, who were under the influence of alcohol, Ibrahim said.
They confessed to coordinating the work of the beggars, according to Ibrahim. Sampara reportedly said he had been doing this for more than two years.
Ibrahim said that according to Sampara, the beggars and street children were transported to Makassar from Jeneponto and Takalar regencies.
Every day the children were dropped off near at least 20 busy intersections throughout Makassar, Ibrahim said.
Sampara told officials each child was required to collect at least Rp 10,000 (US$1.05) a day, with some children being obliged to collect at least Rp 50,000 a day.
""If the children failed to meet the target, Sampara beat them up,"" Ibrahim said.
The integrated team, consisting of representatives from the social service office, the police and non-governmental organizations, transferred Sampara and Sila to Makassar Police Headquarters.
Makassar Police detectives chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Richard Nainggolan said police were looking into the case.
""We are still investigating. Sampara and his friend have denied they were coordinating the beggars and street children, claiming they were their own kids,"" Richard said.
The two could eventually be charged under a 2002 law on the protection of children.
""We take pity on the children because they were forced to get money, which was later used to buy alcohol. What will the future of these children be?"" he asked.
