Nine bodies found in Purbalingga rivers

PURBALINGGA, Central Java: Local police said on Tuesday that at least nine murder victims had been found in Muli River and Serayu River over the last three months, causing a 400 percent rise in the local murder rate as compared to the same period last year.

"These findings have really shocked us. Criminal acts are on the rise here. We should work hand in hand to prevent such crimes from happening again," chief of Purbalingga Police Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sofyan said.

He said that only two victims of murder had been reported in the town last year, but added that he was not sure whether all of the bodies recently found in the rivers were local residents.

The latest corpse found floating down Muli River was a man with a rope tied around his neck and tattoos on his body, Agus said.

He added that autopsies revealed most of the corpses were murder victims and that they have subsequently been buried as they had not been claimed by relatives.--JP