Prosecutor demands jail term for thief

BOGOR (JP): A prosecutor has asked the Bogor District Court to sentence a man charged for a violent theft last March to 17 months in prison.

Prosecutor Sofyan Selle told the court yesterday that Edi bin Sigor Simbolon, 24, and three associates who are still at large hijacked a public minivan plying the Lebak Bulus-Parung route and demanded its seven passengers hand over all of their valuables.

The robbers, brandishing knives, poured gasoline on the floor of the running vehicle and threatened to ignite it if the passengers refused to do what they said, according to Sofyan.

The prosecutor said that Edi was the one who held the match at the ready while his accomplices pointed their knives at the driver and the passengers.

"The group took the passengers' valuables, such as gold items, wristwatches and cash totaling Rp 2 million," Sofyan said.

The robbers then ordered the passengers get out of the van on Jl. Raya Sawangan.

Edi was seized by passers-by shortly after the victims screamed for help, he added.

The court adjourned following the prosecutor's presentation until June 29. (bsr/24)