Man killed for stealing myna bird

Man killed for stealing myna bird

JAKARTA (JP): A man was killed on Saturday for stealing a bird in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta.

Twenty-nine-year-old Edy, known as a local thug, was attacked by an angry mob as he tried to sell the myna bird, which he had stolen from a local resident.

Police officers said a security guard saw Edy steal the myna bird from Sukardi's house. However, the security guard was too afraid to do anything until he met Sukardi's son, Agung.

On a motorcycle, Agung chased Edy and a companion, Pos Kota reported yesterday. The friend got away, but Edy was surrounded by a group of locals.

After a severe beating, the group abandoned Edy and the myna bird, which was killed in the incident. Edy died while being taken by police to a nearby hospital.

Agung told the local police that he had no idea who asked the group to chase Edy nor which one was responsible for killing Edy. Eyewitnesses said the group spontaneously chased Edy because the owner of the bird, Sukardi, is respected in the neighborhood.

Sukardi said that two other birds had been stolen from him in the past.

A good myna bird costs millions of rupiah. (sur)