More loot returned in W. Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta military district handed over to the West Jakarta mayoralty Wednesday more goods it had confiscated from looters during the recent riots.

Five televisions, two diesel engines, 27 tires and Rp 7.32 million in cash were presented by military district commander Lt. Col. Amril Amir to Mayor H. Soetardjianto.

Amril said that the booty, whose owners had not been identified, were taken from shopping centers and private residences during the unrest, Antara reported.

He said that 557 alleged looters and two trucks of stolen property were being held at the West Jakarta police station pending further investigation.

Both Amril and Soetardjianto urged the people who took part in looting spree to return the goods to local subdistrict officials.

Soetardjianto said that looters who gave up their booty voluntarily would not be prosecuted.

He also said that he would apply stern measures against his officials who stole the returned goods and failed to pass them on to the rightful owners.

"They should not try to pinch those things, I will take punitive measure against them. If necessary, I'll not hesitate to fire them."

The mayor said that victims of the looting who wanted to check if their stolen possessions had been returned should take recommendation letters to the mayoralty office from their local neighborhood chief.

Soetardjianto said that of the 2,000 electronic goods and home appliances submitted to the local administration, 1,000 had been recovered by the owners. (ivy)