The next time you cast a critical eye on a suspicious looking taxi trying to offer you a ride, consider for a moment that the taxi driver may be eyeing you up with just as much suspicion, wondering if you’re a regular passenger or a possible psychopath.
A taxi driver made the mistake of picking up the wrong passenger on Jl. Yos Sudarso in Koja on Monday night and it almost cost him his life.
The driver, 33-year-old Rizky Faisal, picked up 20-year-old Dwi Purwanto at around 9pm in front of Ramayana Permai. Dwi asked the victim to drive to Kota, West Jakarta.
Dwi apparently made chit chat with Rizky during the drive, pretending to be on his way to make a deposit at his office.
Upon arriving in the Kota area, Dwi suddenly told Rizky that he now had to make a delivery to Kamal Muara, Penjaringan. Once they were on a deserted street in Kamal Muara, Dwi told the driver to stop.
Suddenly and without warning Dwi stabbed Rizky in the chest with a screwdriver. The driver jerk around in pain as he tried to fight back. But with his injuries, he was unable to overpower Dwi, who continued to stab him in the chest.
“Realizing the severity of the situation, the victim managed to get out of the taxi and cry for help,” said Penjaringan Police Assistant Commissioner Kus Subiantoro as quoted by Kompas.
Fortunately for Rizky, some passing motorists were going by and he managed to get their attentin with his cries for help. When they started to approach him, Dwi panicked and tried to flee.
But Penjaringan Police patrol officers were passing through the area and were able to catch Dwi before he could escape. They arrested the 20-year-old and confiscated the screwdriver he used to stab Rizky.
Dwi told the police that he did not intend to rob the victim but he said he needed money to meet his friend who was waiting for him in Kamal Muara.
Police said that, regardless of his reasons, Dwi faces up to five years in prison for his actions.
Rizky is currently recovering at Atma Jaya Hospital.
