Two killed over Rp 20,000 debt

JAKARTA (JP): An angry crowd beat two men to death during a commotion over the collection of a Rp 20,000 (US$5,71) debt in West Jakarta, one of victims' relatives said yesterday.

The victims were identified as Dayat, 38, a resident of Kapuk, in West Jakarta, and his nephew, Heru Pratomo, a student of the economic and administrative high school SMEA PGRI II in Cengkareng.

Dayat's older sister, Hartini, said Dayat died instantly at the scene about 9 p.m. Saturday, while Heru died in Sumber Waras Hospital, West Jakarta.

She said the two men had nothing to do with the debt. They had been asked by a friend, identified as Mul, to collect the money from his debtor, Noni.

But Dayat was drunk and he talked rudely to Noni's family, threatening to take some of the family's belongings, she said.

Noni's family were offended by the men's behavior and they called on their neighbors to make Mul, Dayat and Heru leave the house.

The neighbors flocked to Noni's house and attacked the three men. Mul managed to flee but Dayat and Heru were outnumbered and collapsed, she said.

Dayat, who was stabbed in the stomach, died instantly, while Heru lay unconscious after being hit by a big wood block.

Hartini said her family wanted to remove the men's bodies from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital's morgue, in Central Jakarta, so they could bury them today at Tegal Alur Public Cemetery in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. (04)