Woman to marry her robber

PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): A 22-year-old shop attendant, Sofyah, will marry today the man who grabbed a stack of banknotes totaling Rp 4 million (US$470) from her counter last week.

Police have agreed to temporarily free the bridegroom-to-be, Hendro, 26, so that he can wed but security officers will be on hand until the man is returned to his cell.

"But, of course, we won't be able to follow him into his bed on the wedding night," Banyumas Police precinct chief Lt. Col. Agus Yudharto told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Hendro and Sofyah have been a couple for quite some time and their wedding had been planned long before the incident, their friends said.

The bridegroom-to-be told police he stole the money from Sri Ratu Supermarket, where he used to work as a security guard until he was sacked for absenteeism, because he needed money for the wedding party.

According to Agus, Hendro was so desperate that he also stole wrist watches and fancy lighters worth another Rp 4 million before he was apprehended and handcuffed in front of his shocked fiance.

"Hendro came to the shop with the intention of taking Sofyah home but the piles of banknotes prompted him to change his plan," Agus said. (45/pan)