JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — The sale of Nexian mobile phones bundled with Esia SIM cards at EX Plaza, Jakarta, Wednesday, caused a riot. The riot ensued because the buyers have queued for a long time and were impatient to be served, so they chased the salespeople.
Previously, thousands of buyers queued from inside EX Plaza to the yard outside the building. However the merchandise they were waiting for was withheld. Some buyers were calling out so that the sale would start. The peak was when the salespeople brought out three boxes of Nexian mobiles, the impatient buyers rushed forward.
Pushed by the buyers, the 3.5 m long and 2 m high queue fence toppled. The riot worsened because the buyers kept moving forward to the salespeople. The salespeople were overwhelmed and decided to run away, so a chase happened between them and the buyers all the way to M.H. Thamrin street.
The situation was controlled after some of the building's security staff and police set the buyers in order. So far, some prospective buyers are in EX Plaza asking whether the cheap mobile sale will be continued or stopped.
The Nexian phones bundled with Esia SIM cards were sold for Rp. 99,000 a piece, whereas the normal price was Rp. 299,000. The special sale was only for today. (Kristianto Purnomo/C17-09)
