AN Indonesian coffin maker who found a meteorite after it smashed through his roof three months ago complained that he had been ripped off after selling the rock to an American for US$14,000, local media reported Friday.

Joshua Hutagalung, who lives in North Sumatra province, told the Jakarta Post that he was upset after finding out that his space rock was worth as much as US$1.8 million.

“If that’s true, I’ve been lied to and I’m disappointed,’’ the 34-year-old said.

Hutagalung said he had sold 1.8 kilograms of the 2.2-kilogram rock, estimated to be 4.5 billion years old, to a U.S. meteorite expert named Jared Collins for 200 million rupiah (US$14,000).

“I have spent all the 200 million I got from selling the meteorite to Collins on helping my family and orphans, building a church and repairing my parents’ graves,’’ he reportedly said.

His discovery went viral after he posted about it on Facebook. He said that he initially refused to sell the rock, but relented after Collins offered an additional 14 million rupiah to repair his roof, which was damaged by the meteorite.

Collins sold the rock to an American collector who has it stored in liquid nitrogen at the Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University, according to The Sun.

Hutagalung said he would not sell the rest of the rock despite its value.(SD-Agencies)