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)