Cianjur resident dies after being beaten for stealing two chayote squashes to break his fast due to lack of money

Cianjur, VIVA – The Cianjur Police Resort in West Java is awaiting autopsy results on the body of Minta (56), a resident of Cugenang sub-district, who died after being subjected to violence by the owner of a plantation who accused him of stealing two labu siam (chayote).

The Cianjur Police Chief AKBP Alexander Yurikho Hadi said that the victim’s body had undergone an autopsy at Sayang Cianjur Regional General Hospital, with results expected to be released in the coming days.

However, he noted that externally the victim had blue bruising on several parts of the body, making the external post-mortem examination a key piece of evidence in identifying the suspect.

“We have detained and named the suspect, UA (41), who caused the victim to die as a result of the violent act, and we hope justice will be felt by the victim’s family,” he said.

According to residents and the victim’s family, Minta had been caring for his mother, who is 100 years old, but he had no steady job, living as a day labourer. Lacking money and rice, he reportedly took two labu siam from the suspect’s plantation.

The pumpkins were intended for breaking his fast with his mother, but the plantation owner caught him, chased him to the front of his house, and subjected him to violent assault by the suspect UA.

Two days later, the victim breathed his last. He had previously told of taking two labu siam to eat because he had no money or rice to break his fast with his mother.

“My uncle said he was forced to take two labu siam to break his fast because he had no money, let alone rice, but the perpetrator has long been known to steal many pumpkins and cast the blame on my uncle,” said one relative.

Family members hope the perpetrator will be given a commensurate punishment for causing Minta’s death, as he took two labu siam to eat rather than for sale.