Man jailed for profane theft

Man jailed for profane theft

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta District Court sentenced an
unemployed man yesterday to eight months in jail for stealing Rp
348,000 (US$96) from a mosque charity box.

Presiding judge Paimin Martodiredjo said the defendant,
Syarief Hidayat, 28, stole the money from Al-Makmur Mosque on Jl.
KHM Mansur in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Aug. 29.

Paimin said the defendant climbed onto the mosque's roof and
waited for everyone to leave for the night before climbing down
again.

Syarief opened the charity box with a screw driver, took the
money and put it in a plastic bag before closing the lid and
returning the box to its place, he said.

But a resident, identified as Zainudin, had come to say his
midnight prayer at the mosque and saw the defendant holding the
box.

Paimin said Zainudin became suspicious and notified other
residents because he did not believe the defendant's explanation
that he was repairing the box.

Residents caught the defendant and found the money in the
plastic bag, he said.

While in police custody, Syarief admitted that he had stolen
money from the mosque three times, the judge said.

"How dare you steal money from a holy place. You planned these
thefts."

Syarief showed remorse and promised not to reoffend. (jun)