Chayote for Breaking Fast Leads to Man's Death in Cianjur

The earth was still red and damp. Within it lay the body of Minta (56), who breathed his last after two days of complaining of pain from numerous bruises covering his entire body.

Minta suffered severe bruising after being beaten by the chayote orchard owner who vented his anger upon discovering Minta taking chayotes. Minta was forced to take two chayotes belonging to his neighbour to break his fast with his mother, who was over a century old.

Ujang, the orchard owner, was furious because he had frequently lost produce. When he caught Minta taking two chayotes worth approximately 2,000 rupiah, Ujang immediately administered vigilante justice in front of his parents’ house, witnessed by family and residents.

They could only watch helplessly as Ujang unleashed blows and kicks at Minta, who did not resist. Only after some time did residents intervene to stop Ujang’s assault.

Minta could only complain and acknowledge that he had taken two chayotes—not stolen them—because he had asked permission from the owner to take two for breaking his fast, as he had no money to purchase food for his fast-breaking meal.

Minta had no employment. However, he had to care for his elderly mother who could only lie on a thin mattress in the living room of their semi-permanent home.

Even asking was a necessity for Minta, as he possessed not a single rupiah at that time. He had even planned to cook the chayotes without rice so his mother could still break her fast, according to Minta’s nephew Viqis (29).

Viqis recounted that his uncle never complained and continued striving to meet his mother’s needs. He frequently took on odd jobs in hopes of continuing to care for his ailing mother due to her age.

The uncle and grandmother often received assistance from family and surrounding residents, who were themselves economically struggling, so the uncle frequently sought work he could do at his advanced age.

He suspects that the orchard owner had lost chayotes to theft over time but blamed Minta, who had reportedly asked permission to take two chayotes for breaking his fast because he had no money or rice.

“It’s likely many people have taken them over time but it’s been blamed on my uncle as if he was the one stealing, whereas I asked him at that time and my uncle said he had already asked permission before taking them,” she said.

The family hopes for justice for Minta, who died for taking two chayotes to survive. They are requesting that police prosecute the perpetrator with proportionate punishment for causing Minta’s death.

Police Development of the Case

Cianjur Police Resort continues to investigate the assault case that resulted in Minta’s (56) death. Minta was a resident of Talaga Village, Cugenang District, after suffering assault from orchard owner Ujang Ahmad (41).

The owner and perpetrator, who caused the victim’s death, is currently detained at Cianjur Police Resort to account for his actions.

The perpetrator vented his anger at the victim after a quarrel and accused the victim of frequently stealing chayotes from his plantation. The perpetrator unleashed indiscriminate blows and kicks at the victim’s body until the victim collapsed to the ground.