Pawn shop's cash drained

MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A pawn shop in Sikka regency here has been running short of cash due to stiff demand for funds by people unable to get bank loans.

The head of the Sikka branch of state-run Perum Pegadaian, Herman Harnon, said the shop had been experiencing the problem since August.

The shop has been overrun every day, he said without disclosing the total value of items pawned or the amount of money borrowed. He said most people were pawning jewelry. (yac)