Suspected Siam Pumpkin Theft: Elderly Man in Cianjur Dies After Beating by Neighbour

An elderly man identified as Minta, aged 56, a resident of Kampung Bayabang, Cugenang, in Cianjur Regency, died after being assaulted by a neighbour, Ujang Ahmad, 41. The victim was beaten by the suspect at the latter’s house. The Cugenang Police Chief Kompol Usep Nurdin said the assault occurred on Saturday (28 February) at the victim’s home. The suspect approached the victim and immediately assaulted him. ‘The victim was beaten with bare hands and kicked, causing bruising around the eyes and head, a wound on the neck, and bruises on the shoulder and arm, and a bloody nose,’ the chief said when contacted on Thursday (5 March). After the beating the victim vomited. The assault ended when the victim’s younger brother Cucum stepped in to break up the fight; the victim admitted to Cucum that he had stolen two Siam pumpkins from the suspect’s garden. Two days later, on Monday (2 March), the victim went to Cucum’s house in a wobbly condition, complaining of head dizziness. Not long after, he collapsed and died. Cucum reported what happened to the police. ‘After receiving the report and conducting checks, we have arrested the perpetrator,’ the police chief said. The autopsy supported the victim’s injuries as a result of the assault. The victim had a lump at the back of the head and a bruise on the forehead with an abrasion, as well as bruises on the right eyelid, neck, and arm. ‘The suspect is currently detained and undergoing further legal proceedings,’ he added.