Jakarta – Police named former crime lord Hercules Rozario Marshal and 49 others as suspects on Saturday for their alleged involvement in a fight with police in Kebon Jeruk Indah, West Jakarta on Friday.
"We have named 50 people suspects, including Hercules, and will have them in jail by this evening [Saturday]," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Rikwanto said the clash started when the suspects allegedly tried to provoke a fight with police personnel who had been dispatched to guard the area after reports that Hercules and his men were actively engaged in extortion there.
"Hercules' group picked a fight with officers at around 4 p.m., breaking windows in stores nearby and attacking a police vehicle," he said. "The men returned about one hour later carrying weapons. We immediately took action and detained them."
Detectives raided Hercules' house after the arrests and swept the area for evidence, confiscating four machetes, a bow and arrows, seven daggers, two replica guns, an FN pistol, a catapult, 27 bullets and two magazines.
Rikwanto told the Post that contrary to early media reports, no shooting had occurred during the incident. "The only shots fired were by the police, into the air to stop the mob. The only gun confiscated was found in Hercules' house."
Those arrested are likely to face multiple charges under Articles 160, 170 and 214 of the Criminal Codes for incitement, violence and resisting an arrest, carrying maximum sentences of 18 years in total.
Meanwhile, Hercules is facing an additional charge for illegal possession of a firearm, breaching the 1951 Emergency Law, which carries maximum penalty of death or 20 years in prison.
Police are also investigating the source of a suspicious intelligence identification card taken from the car of one of Hercules' associates. The name on the card reads Franky Hercules. "We will discover whether the owner printed it himself or where it came from. This can actually be printed anywhere," he said.
The West Jakarta Police, who are assisting in this case, said Hercules and his men had been reported by three companies for extortion.
"They reported Hercules told them the money was for security. One of the three companies was extorted by the former crime lord himself," West Jakarta Police detectives chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hengky Haryadi said as quoted by kompas.com. West Jakarta is notorious for many disputed plots of land. (fzm)