As originally reported on TODAY, police arrested four Lion Air employees after they allegedly stole items from checked bags at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia. The arrests were made after a complaint was filed with airport police in November 2015.
Adj Sr Comr Roycke Harry Langie, the airport police chief, said that his office—working together with airport operator Angkasa Pura II—set up CCTV cameras in the airport’s baggage-handling area. The cameras later caught the four baggage handlers opening luggage and stealing items.
The suspects have not been identified by name, but police did say that they all worked for Lion Air. One of the suspects, identified only by the initial S, claimed that the airline’s security guards were also in on the theft ring. The suspect stated that the security guards would alert them when they could start going through the bags and had also demanded a cut of whatever items were stolen. The suspect also said that he was forced to take part after joining the company in 2014 for fear of being beaten up.
Lion Air is currently working with the police and airport authorities on the investigation, but they have also launched an internal probe to determine if any security officers from the airline were involved.
Soekarno-Hatta general manager Zulfahmi said the airport operator would step up its monitoring of the baggage-handling process with a 24-hour CCTV setup. He also said the operator would work more closely with the airport police and all airlines to boost security throughout the airport.
Copyright 2016 – Mediacorp Press Ltd.
