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)