Austrian tourist, wife beaten by islanders

Austrian tourist, wife beaten by islanders

TERNATE, North Maluku: Austrian tourist Marcus Hobbler, 29,
and his Indonesian wife, Megawati Mangunsong, 21, were kidnapped
and beaten on Thursday by several people in Dorarisa village on
the island of Hiri, Antara reported.

Local police chief Prijandono confirmed the incident on
Saturday.

Hobbler said at Ternate Hospital -- where he and his wife were
admitted with injuries -- that they were visiting a beach near
Sulamanda village when a man approached them and asked if they
wanted to see a beautiful lake on the top of the mountain on Hiri
island, 17 kilometers north of Ternate.

After having only been on the island for a short time, a
number of local people suddenly appeared and took the couple
prisoner, Hobbler said.

"They tied up our wrists, hit us in the head, hands and other
parts of our bodies," he said. (swe)