Jakarta – Banyumas Muhammadiyah student activists initiated on Friday a movement to collect 1,000 bananas for Kuatno, a man charged with stealing bananas in Cilacap, Central Java.

The activists established a post in front of the SMA Muhammadiyah high school in Purwokerto, Central Java, to attract local residents.

"We are hoping that residents who are aware of this banana case will be willing to donate bananas to us at this post," movement coordinator Irfan Fatkhurohman said as quoted by tribunnews.com. Irfan added that the activists would send the collected bananas to Cilacap Police and National Police stations.

This latest protest movement comes hot on the heels of a similar collection for sandals after a 15-year-old boy, identified as A.A.L., recently faced up to five years' imprisonment for allegedly stealing a pair of flip-flops belonging to a police officer.

Kuatno and his friend, Topan, have been detained since Nov. 11, 2011, after being caught red-handed stealing the bananas in Kalisabuk. They admitted stealing nine bunches of bananas but police said they found 15 bunches at the crime scene.

The two men have undergone a psychological examination at the Cilacap Prosecutor's Office in Central Java after Kuatno was said to be mentally retarded. The results of the examination have not yet been released. (swd)