Man gets 14 months for theft

BOGOR (JP): Bogor District Court sentenced a man found guilty of the armed robbery of public minivan passengers in March to 14 months in prison, three months less than the punishment demanded by prosecutors.

Judge Martini said that Edi Bin Sigor Simbolon, 24, was found guilty of hijacking the minivan plying the Lebak Bulus-Parung route and forcing the seven passengers on board to hand over all of their valuables.

Edi, and three other men who are still at large, threatened the passengers with knives, poured gasoline on the floor of the vehicle and threatened to ignite it if the passengers refused to do what the gang ordered them to do, she said.

The group took valuables from the passengers, including jewelry, wristwatches and cash totaling Rp 2 million, Martini said. (24/bsr)