Suspected chicken thief lynched

BOGOR (JP): Obin bin Rida, 36, from Cikeas village, Gunung Putri, was lynched by local residents early on Friday morning after being caught red-handed stealing three chickens belonging to a neighbor, a Gunung Putri Police officer said on Friday.

The officer, who took Obin's body to the PMI Hospital, said someone spotted Obin putting the three chickens into a sack at about 3 a.m.

"The person screamed to wake up the other residents," he said.

"Dozens of people came out of their houses, ran after the suspect and beat him to death."

The officer said Obin was an ex-convict who had repeatedly stolen chickens belonging to villagers in the district.

"He was once detained in a police cell for his wrongdoings. Yet he never stopped and continued stealing his neighbors' chickens," he said.

"This time, the residents gave him a lesson: A real good lesson."

His body was taken home by his family on Friday afternoon, while the chickens were kept at the Gunung Putri Police station as evidence. (24/imn)