Bogor Police detectives have arrested four suspects who frequently posed as policemen and robbed young couples at quiet parks in Bogor and Depok, West Java.
“We arrested them in separate locations in Bogor thanks to tip-offs from members of the community and those who had fallen victim to the theft,” Bogor Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Nugroho Sabar Wibowo told reporters on Monday.
The arrested suspects were Ade Gunawan alias Cepak bin Endang, 39, Herman alias Lolo, 28, Juala Marpaung, 28 and Sulaeman alias Emang, 24.
They were detained at Bogor detention center on Jl. Raya Kedunghalang, Bogor.
Ade and Herman received gun shots in their legs while trying to attack detectives upon their arrest at the Bogor outer ring road turnpike in Cimahpar, North Bogor.
From the suspects, police seized several police vests, one homemade pistol, two motorcycles and one Suzuki Carry minivan.
“The young men pretended to be policeman and preyed on young couples spending time at quiet parks, such as the Jungle recreational area, the Bogor outer ring road turnpike, Sentul and several parks in Sawangan, Depok,” Nugroho said.
Nugroho said the robbers would intimidate their victims with pistols or sharp weapons to make them obey their orders.
“Some victims told police detectives that sometimes the suspects took the victims in a car and dumped them somewhere along the Jagorawi toll road,” he said.
According to Nugroho, the detectives were still hunting down one suspect, known as Waja.
“The suspects will be charged with armed robbery punishable with a maximum nine-year prison sentence,” he said.
One of the suspects, Juala Marpaung, a resident of Sukasari, Bogor, claimed that he had only been a part of the robbery gang for one month.
“Ade asked me to join the gang,” Juala said, referring to another suspect.
Juala added that his role in the gang was the one who spotted the would-be victims and monitored the situation prior to the robbery.
“I received Rp 200,000 [US$21] for each successful robbery,” he said.
