Police arrest suspected thieves

PURWOREJO, Central Java: Police have arrested four people suspected of stealing money designated for Ngombol district teachers' salaries, amounting to Rp 117 million (about US$49,787), Antara reported yesterday.

Kedu police chief AE Rustandi said on Saturday that police also managed to recover all the money. In addition, they confiscated the two cars and two motorcycles used in the theft.

The four suspects -- identified as Suh, Nan, ER and Tr -- were arrested only 16 hours after the theft took place. "The theft was solved because of the 373 teachers' prayers that the money -- which is rightfully theirs -- could be found," Rustandi said.

One of the suspects, Suh, was a former treasurer at the local education office. He stole the money from the car used to transport it from the bank while officials appointed to guard the money were eating. (swe)