“We have apprehended five teenagers -- two of whom have been named suspects -- over the extortion for further investigation. They claimed there was no mastermind behind the acts they committed all this time,” North Jakarta Police criminal investigation unit director Adj. Sr. Comr. Febriansyah said on Sunday, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

He said the suspects had claimed that the money they had received from extorting the truck drivers had been used to cover their daily needs. The police did not believe those claims, however, he said, and would question the suspects further.

Febriansyah said the North Jakarta Police had set up an anti-illegal fees special unit comprising personnel of the patrol unit, the criminal investigation unit, internal security unit and the intelligence unit to prevent similar crimes in the future.

“Subprecinct police personnel will also be deployed to help the special unit. We will enforce security to anticipate similar incidents, and we will take firm action against the perpetrators [of extortion],” Febriansyah said.

Separately, the North Jakarta Police have detained 83 members of a road extortion syndicate locally known as bajing loncat that frequently targeted truck drivers. Thirteen of the suspects were arrested because they had reportedly used weapons to commit their crimes.

Febriansyah said the 70 perpetrators would be rehabilitated by the Jakarta Social Affairs Agency. (ami/ebf)

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