Bonus behind the riots

Bonus behind the riots

PURWAKARTA, West Java: A court hearing on the case of supermarket employees abusing a customer, which led to a three- day riot here last month, revealed that the workers were after a bonus.

The employers had been promised a Rp 25,000 (US$10.85) bonus if they managed to catch a shoplifter, said Hendrik Reno, 60, a security guard at the supermarket.

Standing trial were the manger of the supermarket and one of his employees.

Security was tight at the hearing, which took place at the Purwakarta district court. The court was ringed by a curious crowd.

Hendrik testified that he grabbed Lia Yulianawati, 13, on Oct. 15, after he suspected she stole two pieces of chocolate. Hendrik then handed the girl over to the supermarket owner.

He said he witnessed people beating Lia before the police came to arrest her.

Lia testified that Hendrik did not only accuse her of stealing chocolate but also stole her money.

She said she was later abused by four employees, who also forced her to scrub the supermarket's floor and toilet.

"They took the law into their own hands by parading me around in the shop, watched by angry people who shouted 'thief!'," she testified. (anr)