Man bashed to death for alleged extortion

TANGERANG (JP): A crowd beat an unemployed man to death for allegedly trying to extort money from a local resident in Pakulonan village, Serpong, in Tangerang, Wednesday night.

Rusli, alias Sakur, said that the victim -- identified as Dadang, 42 -- asked him for Rp 5,000 (US$1.42).

He claimed that when he refused to pay the money, Dadang, who was an alleged hoodlum in the village, got angry.

"I knew the victim well so I did not even think that he would get angry with me."

Dadang allegedly threatened 35-year-old Rusli with a dagger that he had strapped to his waist.

"He threatened to stab me if I did not give him money," Rusli said, adding that he called for help as soon as he saw the knife.

People in the vicinity rushed to his aid and the victim fled, he said. They started yelling: "Thief, thief!", drawing a larger crowd.

The crowd attacked the victim with various weapons, including stones and blocks of wood, Rusli said.

A police officer from the Serpong Police subprecinct said officers arrived at the scene in time to disperse the crowd but the victim was in a critical condition.

The officer, who asked not to be named, said the victim was rushed to Qadr Islamic Hospital but died a few hours later as a result of severe internal bleeding. His body was later sent to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta for a postmortem examination.

Dadang is survived by his five children, aged between two months and 11 years, and a wife, Nila.

The family had moved from Ogan Komering Ilir, South Sumatra, to Tangerang in September last year in the hope of improving their lives, Nila said.

Nila, who attended the morgue with her eldest son, Rio, and youngest child, Gilang, said that Dadang was a good father even though they were poor and uncertain about living in a big city.

"I am so confused about how to raise my children. I didn't expect his life to end this way," she said.

"Dadang was very attentive and caring, that's why he forced himself to do anything he could to feed our children." she said.

Dadang, who graduated from college as a religious teacher, used to accept whatever work he was offered, including repairing electronic equipment for his neighbors, she said.

Nila plans to bury her husband in Jelebud, Bogor, where most of their friends from Sumatra now reside. (41/04)