Forced To Ask For Money, 5 Buskers In Ciracas Threaten And Blackmail Shop Owners

JAKARTA - The Criminal Investigation Unit (Reskrim) of the Ciracas Police arrested three buskers who threatened the shop owner on Jalan Cibubur I, Cibubur Village, East Jakarta.

Ciracas Police Chief Kompol Jupriono said the three buskers who were arrested had the initials RM (26), BE (22) and AS (23). The three of them not only threatened using sickles but also took goods from the shop owner.

"They pointed sickles at the victim while asking for milk, gasoline and 13 packs of cigarettes of various brands," said Jupriono in Jakarta, Thursday.

Jupriono added that the three of them were targeting a grocery shop that is open 24 hours. The perpetrator acted when the environment was quiet so that the victim could not scream for help when his merchandise was grabbed.

Jupriono said that each of the perpetrators had a task, namely that two people threatened the victim with a sickle, while the others monitored the situation around the location.

"Before taking action, they 'hang out' while drinking alcohol. Some of the extorted goods can be used and the rest sold," said Jupriono.

They have been detained at the Ciracas Police. As a result of the perpetrator's actions, he is threatened with being charged with Article 368 of the Criminal Code concerning extortion with threats.

Jupriono said, based on the results of the investigation, it was known that the number of perpetrators involved was five people. However, two other suspects with the initials A and I are still being pursued by the Criminal Investigation Unit.

The ranks of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Ciracas Police are also still looking for evidence of the sickle used by the perpetrators when they acted. It is suspected that the sickle was brought by two other perpetrators who are still at large.

"The evidence that we have secured is a 'flash disk' containing CCTV footage when the perpetrator was in action," said Jupriono.