Man burned alive for chicken theft

Man burned alive for chicken theft

CILACAP, East Java (JP): A 50-year-old Mluwung villager in
Wanareja district, Cilacap regency, was burned to death in the
wee hours of Tuesday after being accused of stealing a rooster
from a local resident.

The killing of Sumardi by people from the neighboring area of
Padang Jaya village in Majenang district brings the death toll of
street justice victims in Cilacap regency to 17 so far this year.

According to Sr. Supt. Carel Risakotta, chief of the Banyumas
region, which also supervises the regency, the incident was
triggered by a rumor that Sumardi had stolen a chicken from the
house of a Padang Jaya resident.

"Based on the story, the (Padang Jaya) people were enraged and
rushed to find Sumardi's home.

"Upon finding his house, Sumardi was then beaten and dragged
out to a (soccer) field," officer Carel said.

Two witnesses, Edi, a staffer of the local administration
office, and Sutrisno, a resident, told police officers that the
crowd later tied the helpless Sumardi to a pole, around which
wood doused with gasoline had been piled.

"The victim was then burned alive. No one was willing to help
him," one of the witnesses said.

Officer Carel said his office was investigating the case and
vowed to arrest those involved in the crime and bring them to the
court.

"We're still tracing the ringleader of the Padang Jaya case,"
he said.

Carel did not explain whether or not Sumardi was the real
culprit in the chicken theft.

Like in many other big cities and towns across the country,
people have resorted to taking the law into their own hands
rather then hand suspected criminals over to the police as
required by law.

Besides the 17 dead victims, street justice in Cilacap regency
has also left 17 other suspects wounded by mobs. (01/45)