Suspected burglar fatally mobbed

TANGERANG (JP): Scores of Sari Mulya villagers fatally mobbed a local resident, who was suspected by villagers of committing a series of crimes.

Munir, 29, suffered severe wounds to his face after being slashed with machetes and beaten with rocks by the villagers from the Serpong district on Wednesday.

For years, the residents were angry about a series of crimes, including burglaries, allegedly committed by Munir.

Villager Saan, 31, who witnessed the incident, said the villagers knew the crimes were committed by Munir.

However, he said none of the villagers were brave enough to face the possible wrath of Munir and report the crimes to the police.

The attack was sparked after a group of villagers approached Munir to ask him a question. Munir, who was sitting with three of his friends in a small coffee shop, responded rudely to the villagers.

The residents then attacked Munir with wooden sticks, rocks, machetes and other sharp weapons, while his three friends fled.

A number of the residents have been summoned for questioning by local police.

Meanwhile, Munir's corpse was taken to Tangerang General Hospital for a postmortem examination.(41/asa)