Kiosk owner admits to killing bird seller

Kiosk owner admits to killing bird seller

Evi Mariani, Jakarta

A cigarette kiosk owner, Zaenal Arifin, 22, surrendered to the
police 16 hours after he killed bird seller Solikhin, 22, in
Pamulang, Tangerang.

"The suspect admitted to killing Solikhin, saying he was angry
at the victim because the latter often demanded cigarettes and
money from him," Pamulang Police chief Adj. Comr. Bastoni Purnama
said on Friday.

"Thursday morning after killing Solikhin, Zaenal ran to his
brother's house in Cimanggis, Depok, and told him about the
murder," he said. "His brother later told Zaenal to give himself
up to the Cimanggis Police."

Zaenal was later taken to Pamulang Police station for
questioning.

Police said Zaenal became angry after discovering that
Solikhin had taken Rp 230,000 (US$25) from his kiosk on
Wednesday.

"On Thursday at around 3 a.m., Zaenal saw Solikhin lying in a
drunken stupor on the sidewalk across from his kiosk. He then
wound wire around Solikhin's neck and dragged him into a dead-end
alley," Bastoni said.

Zaenal hit Solikhin once on the head with a large stone and
four times with a block of wood.

Later on Thursday, Soleh, an attendant at a mineral water
depot, found Solikhin's body in the alley.

Neighbors said Solikhin often demanded money from public
minivan drivers and other vendors. They feared the skinny
Solikhin because he was a local and could easily call upon
neighbors for support.

Police are charging Zaenal with Article 340 of the Criminal
Code on premeditated murder. The offense carries a maximum
penalty of death.