Nine people have been arrested at the Kramat Jati wholesale market in East Jakarta on suspicion of extortion. They allegedly extorted their victims by claiming to be members of a certain civil organization.

According to the police, the suspects, who were arrested last Friday, would rake in up to Rp 50 million a day (US$3,289), wearing uniforms bearing the logos of an unnamed organization.

East Jakarta Police crime unit chief Sr. Adj. Comr. Ida Ketut said the gang had targeted pickup cars carrying vegetables that were unloading their goods around the market. They allegedly extorted Rp 20,000 from every driver.

"Rp 20,000 seems like a small amount of money, but they did this over 24 hours," Ida Ketut said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.

During the arrest, police confiscated Rp 5,050,000, which the suspects are believed to have collected within just two hours, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Besides extortion, the gang allegedly had also been involved in illegal parking.

"They used the market's parking lot for their own benefit, which is why many vehicles would be parked outside the area, causing traffic congestion," Ida added.

The suspects will be charged under Article 368 of the Criminal Code on extortion, which carries a punishment of up to nine years in prison. (vla)