Mobs kill two more suspected criminals

JAKARTA (JP): Two more suspected criminals have been mobbed to death while another alleged crook suffered serious burns after being doused with gasoline and set afire by barbarian residents.

All three tragedies happened in the last two days in separate areas of East Jakarta, a local police officer said on Wednesday.

The killing of the two suspected criminals brought the death toll of people murdered and burned alive by mobs to 65 so far this year, according to data revealed on Wednesday by the morgue staff of Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital.

According to East Jakarta Police chief, Col. Hidayat Fabanxio, the locals have really gone wild.

"They are supposed to hand over the suspects to us," he said.

One of the robbery suspects, Kamran, 31, was beaten to death at about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, by residents of Jatiwaringin, about two kilometers from the robbery scene in a housing complex.

"He stole five gas tanks from a house and was about to load them in a van when the house owner spotted him and screamed for help," Hidayat said.

Kamran drove like mad into opposing traffic, finally hitting a motorcycle driven by a woman, he said.

"The onlookers then pulled him from the van, and beat him on the head until he was dead," the officer said.

AT about 8 p.m. on the previous day, Triyono, a 21 year old student, was arrested and detained in a police cell by Cililitan police for his alleged role in a car robbery.

"But the mob, who followed the arrest, forced themselves through the fence of the police post. They broke the wall of the cell, pulled the suspect out, beat him badly and then burned him to death," Hidayat said.

An hour earlier, angry residents in Kramatjati burned a suspected pickpocket, Joner, 35, in the Duku village of Kramatjati.

The man survived with serious burns and is currently being treated at the Kramatjati police hospital in East Jakarta.

According to Cipto data, 17 suspected criminals were killed in January, 16 the following month, 26 in March and six so far this month.

The figure excluded the number of injured victims in the street justice that has become so popular among residents in the capital.

According to a prosecutor at Central Jakarta District Court, Samadi Budisyam, he does not know any residents suspected of street justice ever being brought to court.

"We understand the police's difficulties," he said.

Police officers have often explained their difficulties in questioning and arresting people and collecting evidence following mob crimes.

The officers worry that mobs could even become crazy enough to attack their offices.

But a lawyer at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute said suspects of such a crime could be charged under Article 354 of the Law on Criminal Code.

"Suspects convicted of street justice face a maximum sentence to ten years in jail if the victim dies," said Tubagus Haryo Karbiyanto.

If the victim is injured, those convicted would face a maximum sentence of eight years in jail, he said.

Tubagus said police, judges, lawyers and prosecutors should uphold the laws in order to strengthen people's trust in the legal system. (ylt/asa/06)