Pickpockets are obviously a serious problem in Jakarta, especially for people riding public transportation. But pickpocketing is also an especially risky business for criminals – those who get caught often suffer severe beatings at the hands of an angry mob, as happened just yesterday at the TransJakarta busway in Gambir.
Captured criminals who are relatively luckier may avoid the public beating but be forced to endure something some would consider nearly as bad – extreme public shaming. In the past we’ve seen pickpockets found at train stations forced to stand and wear signs announcing their crimes, such as one woman who had to carry a sign declaring she was “the queen of pickpockets”.
But this is the first time we’ve seen such punishment being used at a Transjakarta station:
The photo, from Instagram user Ojan Caravanya, has been going around social media recently. It was posted three days ago but it is not clear which TransJakarta station it was taken.
Most comments on the picture are positive, saying that the thieves got what they deserved and that their punishment would deter others from cry. Others added that similar punishments should be used on other types of thieves in Indonesia.
Do you think this sort of public shaming is a justifiable punishment for pickpocketing or other crimes in Jakarta?
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