Couple tried for stealing jeans

JAKARTA (JP): A couple was indicted at the West Jakarta District Court yesterday, charged with stealing four pair of jeans from a department store.

Prosecutor S. Sitanggang said the female defendant, Marina, 32, stole the jeans, worth Rp 298,800 (US$101), from Ramayana department store on Jl. Tanjung Duren in West Jakarta on July 13.

He said Marina stuffed the jeans inside her dress and pretended to be pregnant.

A store security guard, identified as Wiyardi, found it suspicious that a pregnant woman would walk very fast and so followed her, he said.

Marina then got into a parked minivan with Ayadi, 38, in the driver's seat and took the jeans out of her dress, he said.

Wiyardi alerted his colleagues and they handcuffed the couple, he said.

Marina admitted to having shoplifted three times at Ramayana and other department stores.

According to her, she handed all the stolen merchandise over to her boss, identified as Enah, who is still at large. Marina received Rp 20,000 from Enah for each pair of jeans she stole.

Ayadi said he played no role in the shoplifting, but only drove the rented minivan and dropped Marina and three other women, Rita, Ani and Endang, at the department store that one time.

He said the other three were still inside the department store when he and Marina were caught.

The prosecutor said the couple was charged under Article 363 of the Criminal Code.

If found guilty, they could face a maximum of nine years in jail.

Presiding judge Basuki adjourned the trial until next week to hear the prosecutor's demand. (jun)