Liberian faces jail term for theft

JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday to sentence a Liberian to eight months in jail for his involvement in the theft of US$50,000 in cash.

Prosecutor Lukimanto said the defendant, James Kelvin Wolo, 27, and another Liberian, George Smith, alias James William, stole the money from South Korean businessman Soo Yul-yum at Hotel Ibis on Jl. Sabang, Central Jakarta, on Aug. 14.

"The defendant was arrested the following day in the same hotel when he returned part of the money," Lukimanto said.

He said Wolo, reportedly a top basketball player in his homeland, went with Smith for a business meeting with Soo, who he had known for two weeks.

He said Soo left his guests in his room when he went out for lunch. Smith stole a bag containing the money and the two men left, Lukimanto said.

According to the prosecutor, Smith gave $23,000 to the defendant before leaving the country.

Wolo denied the theft, claiming he was asked by his friend to keep the money until he returned from his homeland.

"I returned the money to the South Korean at his hotel room. How could I be arrested and suspected of being a thief?" he told The Jakarta Post in the court's detention chamber. (jun)