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.