Tempted By High Prices, 2 Farmers In Rejang Lebong 'Brush' Aglaonema Imports, Victims Of Rp. 45 Million Loss

Rejang Lebong Police, in Rejang Lebong, Bengkulu Province, Wednesday, showing SE and EW (ANTARA)

BENGKULU - Police officers from the Rejang Lebong Resort, Bengkulu Police arrested two thieves specializing in ornamental plants with the initials SE (43) and EW who usually operate in the area.

Kasatreskrim Polres Rejang Lebong AKP Sampson Sosa Hutapea said the two perpetrators were residents of Tempel Rejo Village, South Curup District and were arrested on Tuesday, October 5.

"According to the confessions of these two suspects, they have done their actions twice, however, we are still conducting further investigations to compare them with the police report data," Hutapea explained as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, October 6.

EW and SE were reported to be victims for stealing hundreds of pots of ornamental plants with aglaonema leaves belonging to residents of Dwi Tunggal Village, Curup District. As a result of this theft, the victim lost up to Rp45 million.

Based on the results of the officer's examination, the two perpetrators knew the location of this flower from social media because the victim was promoting the sale of flowers. Then EW invites SE to steal.

"The evidence that we have secured is 97 stems of aglaonema, an ornamental plant which is sold quite expensively on the market. Then the other evidence is one motorbike and nine empty pots," said Hutapea.

According to him, their modus operandi is to simply pull out aglaonema from the pot and put the plants in sacks. These flowers are then sold to Kepahiang Regency. Currently, the buyer of the stolen flowers has been called by the police.

EW and SE, who work as farmers on a daily basis, were charged with Article 363 of the Criminal Code with threats of up to seven years in prison.