Scavengers 'eat' Harmoko's home

SUKOHARJO, Central Java: A swarm of scavengers broke down the walls of House of Representatives Speaker Harmoko's house in Grogol village, Sukoharjo yesterday, and "devoured" whatever they could.

The house was burned and looted on May 14 during a riot here in which dozens of shops and cars were destroyed.

"I did this because I was asked to," said Wakijan, one of the scavengers. He refused to say who had instructed him to do so.

The scavengers took most of the metal frames in the house and whatever valuables were left.

Only occasionally used by Harmoko's family, the house had not been repaired since the riots.

Grogol subdistrict head Mulyadi confirmed that someone had instructed the scavengers to "devour" the remains but would not say who. (har)