One of the suspects (in handcuffs) is presented before nuns at the convent in Ruteng, where they allegedly stole the money. (Photo supplied)
Indonesian police have arrested nine teenage boys for allegedly stealing money from a convent on the Catholic majority island of Flores.
The accused, all Catholics, stole about 40,000,000 rupiah (US$2,956) and two mobile phones from the convent belonging to the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, in Ruteng, Manggarai district, police spokesman Aldo Febrianto said.
"They broke into the convent on the morning of Nov. 5, while the nuns were attending Mass,” he told ucanews.com.
He said several of the accused had checked out the convent earlier when they delivered a wardrobe for one of the nuns.
Febrianto said police took the boys to the convent and presented them to the nuns, where they apologized and admitted to stealing the money and phones and spending the cash in local bars.
Police were still looking for one more suspect.
The boys could face a maximum prison term of 12 years under Indonesian criminal law.