Caught Stealing Temple Offerings in Tabanan, Youth from Gianyar Beaten by Mob

A youth from Gianyar with the initials IKAMP was caught stealing temple offerings at Pura Gede Penataran, Banjar Kebon, Pandak Gede Village, Kediri District, Tabanan, on Monday afternoon. IKAMP’s actions were recorded by closed-circuit television (CCTV), and an enraged mob subsequently beat him severely.

Kediri Police Chief, Kompol I Putu Budiawan, explained that the incident began when IKAMP passed in front of Pura Gede Penataran on a Honda PCX motorcycle. Seeing the temple surroundings were quiet, the perpetrator parked his motorcycle and entered the temple by climbing the wall.

“Once inside the temple, the perpetrator found a vessel containing offering money in the form of Rp 1,000 and Rp 2,000 notes. The money was then taken and put into his wallet,” Budiawan stated.

However, the act did not last long. CCTV cameras installed in the temple area meant IKAMP’s movements were quickly noticed by residents and temple custodians. Residents then arrived after the kulkul (wooden slit drum) was sounded as a sign of an emergency.

IKAMP was apprehended while still within the temple grounds. In front of the residents, he admitted to taking the offering money. The crowd’s emotions boiled over, and they beat IKAMP until he sustained injuries. The furious mob also damaged IKAMP’s motorcycle.

Personnel from the Kediri Police, who were conducting a routine patrol along with the duty officer led by the supervisory officer, happened to be passing near the location. Officers then intervened to secure IKAMP from the mob’s fury and took him to the Kediri Police headquarters.

Police also secured evidence consisting of one Rp 2,000 note and ten Rp 1,000 notes from IKAMP’s possession. IKAMP’s motorcycle, which had been damaged by the mob, was also confiscated.

“Based on the initial examination, the perpetrator carried out the act by climbing the temple’s boundary wall to enter the sacred area. The suspected motive, for now, is economic factors,” Budiawan explained.

The Kediri Police are still examining IKAMP and taking statements from witnesses. The police are also waiting for the temple custodians, who are currently holding a coordination meeting, to determine the next steps in resolving the offering money theft case.