Finance scheme causes riot

Finance scheme causes riot

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Police fired warning shots and beat up protesters in North Sumatra's capital on Tuesday after riots broke out over a bogus get-rich-quick financial scheme, Reuters reported.

About 1,000 people in Medan, went on a rampage, torching the buildings of a company which they said had promised them a return of an investment with large interest.

Dozens of police in riot gear fired warning shots into the air and beat up some of the protesters, witnesses said.

"We are the ones who had been deceived but we are the ones who are being chased and beaten up," one protester screamed as he ran past journalists.

Police said they did not detain anyone over the protest and received no reports of casualties.

The protesters said a company had promised them to return money which they had invested with 75 percent interest within 35 days. But by the maturity date, they said they could not get their money back.