Police arrest 60 suspected coal thieves in East Kalimantan

Nurni Sulaiman ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Samarinda   |  Mon, 10/13/2008 8:36 PM  |  National

Samarinda City Police arrested 60 people suspected of stealing coal during an inspection along the Mahakam River in Loa Bakung subdistrict, East Kalimantan, on Monday.

Adj. Comr. Handoko, head of Samarinda Police Seaport Security Task Force, said the police found a total of 100 tons of coal loaded in 11 motorized boats at around 6 a.m. local time, following a tip-off from local villagers. The police immediately arrested the boats' crews.

"We suspect they stole the coal from a pontoon owned by a mining company in Jembayan," he said.

Handoko said the suspects were not local people, but rather immigrants from Sulawesi.

"They said they were going to sell the coal for Rp 150,000 (US$15) to Rp 250,000 per ton."

The suspects are currently detained at the Samarinda City police headquarters. They are facing a minimum of five years in prison if found guilty. (dre)

 

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