One dies during looting in Serang

SERANG, West Java: The transportation of raw sugar from the ports of Cigading and Banten in West Java to a nearby refinery plant has been temporarily halted following the death of a suspected looter along the route, Antara said on Thursday.

Banten Police chief Col. Eddy Karnadi said all transportation had been canceled until further notice after hundreds of people rioted and looting raw sugar along the route.

A suspected looter identified as Mahrum, 40, died when a car ran through a crowd gathered on the Ciwandan road in front of Cigading port early on Thursday.

The victim and his friends were waiting for trucks taking raw sugar to the refinery.

The driver of a Feroza jeep carrying three passengers panicked and tried to drive through the large number of people blocking the road.

Mahrum died on the spot, while several others were injured. The three passengers were beaten up by the mob. The injured are being treated at the Krakatau Steel hospital and an undisclosed hospital in Jakarta.