Eight people surrender

BANYUMAS, Central Java: Eight people, claiming to have burned alive an alleged thief in Cilacap, have surrendered to the Cilacap Police.

The eight confessed to helping a crowd burn alive Sumardi, 50, who was accused of burglarizing a resident's house last week.

Banyumas Police chief Sr. Supt. Carel Risakota announced on Friday there was no evidence supporting the accusation against Sumardi. "We are probing the case seriously."

The eight are residents of Padang Jaya village, where Sumardi was reported to have committed the crime.

The burning of Sumardi brings the number of alleged criminals burned to death by mobs in Cilacap to at least 19 this year. (45/sur)