Man charged with extortion

Man charged with extortion

JAKARTA (JP): An unemployed man of Sawah Besar district in Central Jakarta was charged in court yesterday of threatening to set fire to his older brother's house after the latter refused to give him money.

Ruslan, 34, was charged in Central Jakarta District Court under Article 368 of the Criminal Code on extortion with violence.

If found guilty, he could be jailed for up to nine years.

His brother Dece had filed a complaint with police in May at the urging of his neighbors in the densely populated area, who had heard of the threat, according to state prosecutor M. Syafei.

Syafei said Ruslan first asked for Rp 150,000 (US$60) from Dece. When Dece refused, he asked for Rp 10,000.

When this request was also rejected, the defendant went to the kitchen, poured kerosene on the floor from the stove and threatened to set the house on fire.

He did not carry out the threat because many neighbors had already arrived at the house.

The trial was adjourned until next week. (04)