Man burned for borrowing motorbike

CILACAP, Central Java: A 25-year-old man was burned to death for being late in returning a motorbike he borrowed from a friend in Cilacap on Monday.

Cilacap Police chief Supt. Bambang Sudarisman confirmed the incident on Tuesday, saying that he deeply regretted that such a barbaric action was committed by Cilacap residents.

A local identified as Tauhid and the head of Purwosari village, Samin, told the police that Sarikin, a resident of Purwosari village, had failed to return the motorbike he borrowed from a friend, Parsono, on time.

"He borrowed the motorcycle on Aug. 2 and promised to return it soon. But Sarikin had not shown up by Aug. 28. This angered Parsono," Samin told the police.

Parsono and Sarikin met, and Sarikin was upset when Parsono accused him of trying to steal the motorbike.

"A heated argument broke out before Parsono's friends, who had been told that Sarikin tried to steal Parsono's motorbike. When they noticed what was going on they attacked Sarikin," Samin said.

Sarikin was the ninth person killed by mobs in Cilacap this year. (45/sur)