Pekalongan man dies in custody

Pekalongan man dies in custody

JAKARTA: A man whose alleged tearing of the Koran led to a riot in the Central Java town of Pekalongan last week died in a hospital while under police custody on Monday, a newspaper reported yesterday.

Yo Sing Yung, 42, described by police as "mentally ill", was rushed to the Keraton General Hospital on Monday, the report said. He died a few hours later, the Republika daily reported, quoting local military spokesman First Lieutenant Agung Yoga.

Agung said the cause of death was not immediately known. He said the man had been in fine health and had been seen exercising prior to his hospitalization on Monday.

Hundreds of people went on a rampage, destroying shops and setting fire to cars on Wednesday last week, after news spread that someone had ripped apart the Koran in public view.

The unrest lasted three days, during which the military imposed a night curfew. (emb)