Thieves strangle bedridden man

JAKARTA (JP): A 60-year-old man was strangled to death by a group of robbers who broke into his house in Jelambar, West Jakarta, at 9 a.m. yesterday.

The victim, identified as Lim Keng Bie, was a resident of Komplek Taman Hijau Indah and lived in the house with Parwanti, a 23-year-old housemaid, the man's younger sister said.

Liliana explained that her brother's wife lived in Medan, North Sumatra, and the couple's son studied in the United States.

She quoted the housemaid as saying that there was a knock at the front door before the group forced their way into the house.

"When Parwanti opened (the door), a tall, dark-skinned man asked if the owner of the house was home," she said, adding that the man pushed his way in along with four accomplices.

Lim, who had been released from hospital three months ago after being treated for a severe heart condition, was in a very weak condition and laying on a bed.

One of the men grabbed Parwanti and put a cloth in her mouth while the others pushed Lim out of the room, Liliana said.

"They used a napkin to strangle him to death."

The robbers took valuables including a TV set, tape recorder and cash. There were no estimates available on the value of the stolen goods. (04)