The rich beggar, who is arrested by authorities in Pati, Central Java, says he owns assets worth millions of rupiah.
- Jan 16, 2019
AceShowbiz - A beggar is often associated with the poor, but it's not the case with Legiman. The 52-year-old man from Pati, Indonesia, who was recently arrested by the Pati District Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), claims that he owns assets worth millions of rupiah.
Legiman was arrested on Saturday, January 13 local time during the agency's routine operation against homeless people, beggars and derelicts. The agency stated on its official Instagram account that they found a large sum of money in his pocket at the time of arrest.
"We were surprised by this, we counted a total of Rp659,000 that was kept in his pocket," read the post. During the interrogation, Legiman told the authorities that he could get more than that had it not been raining that day. Legiman, indeed, had been caught with more than Rp1 million in his pocket during an arrest one week prior.
Legiman also confessed to have a bank account with Rp900 million worth of saving, a house worth of Rp250 million and recently purchased a piece of land worth Rp280 million. His assets were all from his main activity as a beggar who usually operates on busy streets and Simpang Lima city square.
The authorities went on reminding the public to refrain from giving money to these types of beggars, referencing to the Regional Decree that punishes beggars and people that hand money to beggars. "You're mistaken to think that beggars come from the poor. He's begging because he's lazy but wants to obtain large sums of money instantly. That is why we urge you to think again before giving them money," they explained.
Legiman has since gone viral as a rich beggar. Commenting on the report, Vice-Chairman of Social Affairs Commission VIII Ace Hasan Syadzily called this phenomenon of wealthy beggars "ironic." While admitting that every person has his own fortune, he said, "Searching through food begging so that he has plenty of real estate assets should not have been allowed to pass a lot of wealth."
Ace additionally reminded the public to not give money or gifts to "beggars who are still productive, healthy and young, and it is better to turn to those who need creative or credible philanthropic institutions."
Legiman has been released by the authorities after a family member picked him up. Despite his boasting about his wealth, the Vice of District Public Order Agency of Central Java said the man could not prove that he owns the assets mentioned above.
