Bantaeng thieves turn themselves in<\/p>\n
BANTAENG, South Sulawesi: At least 42 self-confessed robbers
\nvoluntarily turned themselves over to police here in the past few
\nweeks fearing a public lynching, which has claimed at least four
\nlives.<\/p>\n
The bizarre turn of events began in late July when residents
\nin 18 villages in three districts in the Bantaeng regency formed
\na \"forum\" to take the law into their own hands.<\/p>\n
\"The people of Bantaeng are fed up with the vile actions of
\nthese crooks who seem to able to do what they please, while the
\npolice seem utterly helpless,\" forum spokesman M. Natsir told The
\nJakarta Post here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He claimed that some 4,000 people from 18 villages were
\nmembers of the forum.<\/p>\n
Speaking of the deaths that had occurred, Natsir claimed that
\nthey were merely trying to apprehend the thieves.<\/p>\n
\"We really don't want bloodshed, but since they tried to
\nresist, then we had to take action,\" he said, adding that in his
\nestimation there were some 300 thieves at large in the regency,
\nwhich is located some 150 kilometers south of Ujungpandang.<\/p>\n
Bantaeng Police chief Lt. Col. Dedy Fauziah El Hakim
\nacknowledged that jail cells were filled with the self-processed
\nthieves.<\/p>\n
He also acknowledged the existence of the \"forum\", but refused
\nto comment when asked about the group's propensity for taking the
\nlaw into their own hands. (27)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bantaeng-thieves-turn-themselves-in-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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