Police Arrest Dozens Of Millions Of Murai Bird Thieves, Money To Pay Debts

The police are examining the suspect in the theft of stone magpies for Rp. 17 million by also presenting evidence at the Mataram Police Office, NTB, Tuesday (8/10/2024). ANTARA/Dhimas B.P.

MATARAM - Mataram City Police, West Nusa Tenggara, arrested a stone-barreled bird thief for Rp. 17 million which belonged to an honorary employee of one of the government agencies.

Head of the Mataram Police Satreskrim Kompol I Made Yogi Purusa Utama confirmed the arrest of the perpetrator of the theft.

"Yes, this morning the perpetrator was caught from the follow-up to the victim's report, which admitted that the price of this stone murai bird was good, he had won a stone magpie contest, so the price was estimated at up to Rp. 17 million," said Kompol Yogi as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, October 8.

The perpetrator of the theft had the initials RD from Baturinggit, Mataram City. The police arrested him after RD's identity was revealed from the examination of CCTV footage installed at the victim's house, Sekarbela, Mataram City.

"It happened in the early hours of October 4, 2024. The perpetrator took the victim's bird by jumping over the fence of the house. The victim's position was sleeping at that time," he said.

From the CCTV footage, he said, the RD perpetrator was seen taking the victim's bird hanging on the front ceiling of the house.

"The victim's bird was brought by the perpetrator with the cage," he said.

Apart from RD, the police also arrested two other men with the initials FA and ES. Both have different roles.

The role of the FA and ES was revealed from the development of RD information. Evidence of birds and their cages was secured from ES.

"For this FA, the victim's bird was sold to a collector with the initials ES. This FA sold it with a cage for Rp800 thousand to ES. We also secured both of them this morning," he said.

The police have conducted a case title by naming the three of them as suspects.

RD is suspected of Article 363 of the Criminal Code regarding theft, while FA and ES are subject to Article 480 of the Criminal Code concerning the collection of stolen goods.

"From the results of the examination, RD admitted that he had spent the money from the sale of the victim's birds to pay the debt of Rp. 500 thousand and the rest to get drunk," he said.