Man hides to teach his wife a lesson

CIANJUR, West Java (JP): A 40-year-old man missing since Sunday returned home on Thursday to the relief of his family, who thought he had been abducted, and admitted that he had disappeared simply to teach his wife a lesson.

Herry Ahmadi Syarif, the head of the village religious affairs office in Cilaku, was immediately whisked away by the police, who had been searching for him since he was reported missing.

According to Antara, the chief of Cianjur police precinct Lt. Col. Panjang Yuswanto said on Friday that Herry admitted during questioning that he himself had spread word of his abduction.

"I did it to teach my wife a lesson," Herry was quoted by Yuswanto as saying.

"I was not kidnapped. I only wanted my wife to know what it feels like to be left by her husband," Herry said.

Herry asked a friend to tell his wife, identified as Ela Nurlaela, 39, that he had been kidnapped. His wife then told the police that Herry had been abducted by a gang of unidentified men.

Yuswanto said Herry could face 18 months in prison. (swe)