T

he police have arrested Slamet Wahyudi, a 31-year-old Defense Ministry civil servant and gang member, and one of his affiliates over allegations of violent extortion.

Brig. Handik Zusen from the city police mobile detectives unit on Thursday said the two men were arrested after the father of the victim filed a police report.

Muhajir died due to injuries sustained after being thrown from a moving car.

Besides Slamet, Handik said, the police had also arrested Aprian, who, it is alleged, bought and handled stolen property from Slamet and his gang.

Three other gang members, one of which is a sailor, are still at large.

Handik said that Slamet and his gang had posed as police officers and had '€œarrested'€ Muhajir on May 27 for gambling. The gang demanded Rp 5 million (US$422) for his release.

When Muhajir refused to pay the ransom the gang contacted Muhajir'€™s father, Isnanto, and demanded he pay the money.

'€œAccording to Slamet'€™s confession, he was not involved in this incident. He said the guilty parties were the sailor and two other people '€” identified as S and U,'€ Handik said as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Isnanto promised to meet the '€œofficers'€ in Simprug, Kebayoran Lama in South Jakarta and pay the ransom.

According to the police'€™s initial investigation, the blackmailers were enraged when Isnanto turned up empty handed and so they sped off with Muhajir still in their car.

'€œIsnanto yelled after them and then they threw Muhajir out of the car,'€ said Handik.

Muhajir was rushed to hospital but he passed away a few days later. It was following his son'€™s death that Isnanto filed a police report to the Jakarta Police.

The police arrested Slamet at his house in Ciganjur, South Jakarta on Tuesday.

According to Handik, the police would charge Slamet and Aprian of violating the Criminal Code for extortion with threat, the article carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

Handik added that the police was still developing the case. (idb)