Journalist accused of stealing rice

BOGOR: A journalist was reported to the Bogor Police last weekend for allegedly stealing 15.18 tons of rice.

Caringin district head Ade Hidayat said on Friday that Gugum, 36, a reporter for a Bogor publication, and Herry, 35, a Caringin resident, had forged his signature to procure the rice from the Logistics Depot, from where it was to be distributed in the markets of four villages in Caringin district: Pancawati, Cimande Hilir, Cinagara and Muarajaya.

Ade said the scam was uncovered when heads of the four villages came to the Logistics Depot for the rice and was told that it had been taken by Gugum, who had claimed that he was assigned by Ade to take the rice.

"We are worried because thousands of villagers, mostly poor people, are now restless because they didn't get the rice. How can we replace the rice?" Ade said after reporting the case to the Ciawi police. -- JP