Si Pitung

Si Pitung (Old spelling: Si Pitoeng; or sometimes written just Pitung) was a 19th-century bandit in Batavia, Dutch East Indies (modern-day Jakarta, Indonesia). His exploits have since become legendary, with numerous accounts of his life, deeds, and death.

Pitung was born in Pengumben, a slum in Rawabelong (near modern-day Palmerah Station) to Bung Piung and Mbak Pinah; he was the fourth son born to the couple. His real name was Salihoen. Based on oral tradition, the name Pitung is derived from pituan pitulung (Javanese for "group of seven"). As a child, Salihoen studied at Hadji Naipin's Islamic boarding school. Aside from learning his prayers, he also received training in pencak and situational awareness.

Pitung's criminal career started after money earned from the sale of his father's goats was stolen in Tanah Abang. His father forced him to compensate the loss. As a result, he chased down the thief. This incident made him known as a jago, or a brave person. Later Pitung invited his friends – Dji-ih, Rais, and Jebul – to rob Hadji Sapiudin, a wealthy landowner who lived northeast of Batavia, on 30 July 1892. One telling has it that the four men posed as civil servants and stated that Sapiudin was under investigation for fraud, but offered to keep his money in safekeeping. Sapiudin surrendered the money, unaware that he was being conned. The police suspected that the robbers had used guns to threaten the house owner and neighbors. Some tellings have Pitung stealing money only from rich persons who had collaborated with the Dutch colonial overlords.

According to the daily Hindia Olanda, on 18 July 1892 a schout (kind of police officer) in Tanah Abang rummaged through Bitoeng's house in one of villages of Sukabumi. During the search, a black coat, a police uniform, and a cap were discovered. Those items were allegedly used by Pitung and his comrades to rob a village. The next month, 125 guilders were found concealed under the house. The money was supposedly from the robbery of a Mrs. De C. and Hadji Sapiudin.

...
Wikipedia