Police detain five in container hijack

JAKARTA: Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said on Sunday that the police had arrested five people for allegedly hijacking containers of goods and clothes belonging to a famous department store in Jakarta.

“The suspects were arrested in several raids in Depok and Sukabumi, West Java, over the past 12 days,” Rikwanto told reporters, adding that the gang’s mastermind was still at large.

The suspects have been charged under the Criminal Code with theft and may face nine years imprisonment if found guilty.

The police also confiscated a truck, a public minivan, 10 boxes of women’s sandals, nine boxes of shoes and nine boxes of clothes as evidence.

One of the suspects, identified as D, worked as a driver for the department store. He plotted with the other suspects to hijack the goods and then sell them at Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java, at low prices. Losses are estimated to be around Rp 2 billion (US$220,000).

All the suspects are being held at the Jakarta Police headquarters.