Surprising Kidnapping Of Children For Rice Exchange In Makassar, Police Intervene

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MAKASSAR - The Makassar City Police Resort in South Sulawesi, continues to investigate child abduction cases with the perpetrator taking the victim to a grocery store to exchange rice with the excuse that he will return to pick up the child.

"It has been reported to the leadership to get investigation attention on this case", said Bhayangkara Binkamtibmas, Ballaparang Village, Rappocini District, Aipda Syarifuddin, Makassar, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, September 8.

The incident, he said, started from information from the public, and there was another case of children being exchanged for rice. The modus operandi of the perpetrators is that the victim is lured by money to join him in riding his motorbike with the excuse of traveling.

The victim, a boy estimated to be 10 years old, was picked up by the perpetrators on Maccini Gusung Street, Makasar District. The perpetrator then circled carrying the victim while looking for a target for a shop or grocery store that sells rice.

Until finally found the target shop on Pelita Raya Street, Village Ballaparang. The perpetrator then dropped the victim, then take rice with the excuse of forgetting to bring money and would come back to pick up the victim because it was a form of guarantee.

"The method is that when he arrived at the shop he (the perpetrator) pretended to forget to bring his wallet, then the child was kept as collateral to be trusted. There were three sacks of rice brought by the perpetrator", said Syarifuddin.

Information from the victim who sold rice, the perpetrator used an automatic motorbike with the characteristics of a rather tall and thin person.

This incident is the third time in the Rappocini district. The modus operandi is to exchange a small child for rice or gas cylinders as a guarantee that the victim will be deposited in the shop.

The victim, the owner of a rice shop, Risnawati, said the perpetrator stopped by and wanted to buy rice, arguing that there was a wedding ceremony but forgot to bring money. Then take one sack of 25 kilograms of rice, and again take two sacks of 10 kilograms. Total taking 35 kilograms of rice.

"The reason is, I forgot to take the money, so I said don't take it all, then he said to leave my brother for a while, then I'll take it back there, then just leave", she said.

A few moments later Risnawati realized that the child was crying and asked him if it was his brother, the victim said no, the perpetrator picked up him near his house after being promised to give IDR 15 thousand in cash.

"I told him (the victim) was your brother? He said no, only promised money, but the money wasn't there. I lost IDR 500,000", she said.

The victim was finally sent home by the local Bhayangkara Binkamtibmas after the victim stated where he was domiciled. The victim's parents, Jufri (38) was worried, his son had not come home since playing around his house this morning, but by late afternoon had not appeared.

He was also surprised after the police brought his son home and told him about the incident that happened to the victim, brought by an unknown person on a motorbike and then deposited in a stall to exchange for rice.

"I had to report at the Makassar Police Office, my son was missing and had not returned. Later after the police took him we calmed down, thank God he was safe", he said gratefully while thanking the police who brought his son home.