Kupang pearl thieves caught

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Police detectives here have arrested a group of 13 local divers for allegedly stealing at least 27,000 cultivated pearls from a farm near Semau Island of Kupang regency.

Kupang Police chief Lt. Col. Agus Kusnadi said on Friday the group committed the crime in stages beginning early last month by pretending to be traditional fisherman operating near the pearl farm of PT Timor Otzuki Mutiara, which is a foreign firm.

"Four of the suspects are staff of the company, while the rest are residents of Semau Island," the officer said.

According to Agus, the alleged thieves -- all of whom are skilled divers -- sold the "immature" pearls to a number of fencers for an average price of Rp 100,000 (US$12) each.

"So far, we've only seized 133 of the 27,000 stolen pearls," he said.

Only one of the suspected fencers was apprehended, he added.

"There'll be more people who'll be dragged before the Kupang Police," Agus said.

The officer urged the owner of the pearl farm to install floating security posts around the one-hectare cultivation area as a deterrent, Antara reported.