Members of a motorcycle gang calling themselves “Geng 69” (which should give you some idea of their level of sophistication) in the Central Java capital of Semarang were recently paraded in front of the public and their parents for an act of public apology, complete with sobbing tears and the kissing of feet.
The incident took place in front of the Tembalang Police Station in Semarang on Thursday after a number of the gang’s members were arrested in various parts of the city following reports about the youths attacking several people recently, including an attack on Saturday night that sent the victim to the hospital with multiple stab wounds.
Police said the youths had gone on their recent rampage in an effort to make a name for themselves among the city’s gangs. When they were arrested, police confiscated six motorcycles and a variety of weapons including swords and sickles from them.
The police made the 19 handcuffed youths, ranging in age from 16 -21, repeat an apology to their parents and the community for the trouble they had caused and swear an oath not to repeat their actions.
“Your parents work hard so that you can become smart people. Instead what you do is disturb the community,” Tembalang police chief Budi Rahmadi told the youths, as quoted by Tribun.
A video shows some of the alleged delinquents crying and kissing their parents’ feet as they beg for forgiveness.
“Keep crying, spend your tears until you realize that your actions are against the law. Love the parents who have raised you,” lectured the police chief.
After that, accompanied by their parents, the youths were told to sing the country’s national anthem, Indonesian Raya.
Seven of the 19 youths were detained for further questioning after the apology session, police having charged them with assault and other crimes. The others were released to be given counseling by the Social Services agency.
