Street justice claims another victim

TANGERANG (JP): A suspected motorcycle thief was beaten to death by a mob in Jatiuwung on Wednesday evening, the latest victim of the capital's trend for street justice.

Sarwan, from Serang, West Java, was caught by local man Suwarni, allegedly trying to steal a Honda Astrea motorcycle belonging to Haris Rianto.

"At first I thought he was trying to fix the motorcycle. But when I looked at him closely, I saw he was trying to pick the lock. I shouted at him instantly," said Suwarni.

Hearing Suwarni's shouts, Haris chased after Sarwan, who had begun to flee the scene. He was quickly cornered by residents. Unable to escape, Sarwan then was beaten viciously.

Jatiuwung Police officers arrived at the crime scene after receiving a report from a resident, and brought Sarwan to Tangerang General Hospital. But he died from loss of blood on the way.

Jatiuwung Police chief First Lt. Budi Hermawan regretted the killing and called on people to stop taking arbitrary actions toward crime suspects.

"People are supposed to turn over any suspects to the police instead of killing them on the spot," he said. (41/nvn)