What a shocking phone bill

What a shocking phone bill

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Sugeng, a 55-year-old carpenter-masseur from
Baciro village, was shocked to receive a mobile phone bill for
more than Rp 11 million (US$3,235). Sugeng has never even held a
mobile.

"My father never had a telephone let alone a mobile. How come
he was charged such a huge amount for phone calls?" Wahyuni, 18,
Sugeng's daughter, wanted to know.

Wahyuni told the Yogyakarta branch of the Indonesian Legal Aid
Institute yesterday that his father panicked after receiving a
bill amounting to Rp 11,123,020 for a mobile phone listed with
provider PT Metro Selular Nusantara with the number 082 274 6034.

Sugeng's identity might have been used by an unscrupulous
individual to subscribe to the provider. Wahyuni said that a man
who identified himself as Gostar had once borrowed his father's
ID card.

Sugeng said he would not pay the bill. "How can I be charged
for a phone I have never owned?"

Sugeng decided to seek legal protection from the Yogyakarta
legal aid office, which followed up by setting up a team to
handle the case. "We are ready to defend Bapak Sugeng and fight
for his rights," said lawyer Winarso from the legal aid office.
(23/akm)