Student denies role in fatal beating<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior high school student denied in court
\nyesterday that he beat another student during an interschool
\nbrawl in Central Jakarta last December.<\/p>\n
Mahesa Chandra Tambunan, 18, who is being tried with six other
\nstudents, objected to a statement by a police officer who said
\nMahesa took part in the beating of another student from a rival
\nschool -- which led to the latter's death.<\/p>\n
\"I wasn't even near the victim when he was attacked, because I
\nwas hit by someone else before I could get to him,\" Mahesa said.<\/p>\n
He said he had confessed to the beating to police
\ninterrogators under duress. \"They questioned me from 8 a.m. to
\nmidnight and throughout the session they kept yelling and pushing
\nme to admit I did it,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The other six defendants, all 18 years old, admitted in court
\nof their role in beating the student, Adnan Fauzi. One of
\nstudents, Doni Rossiyana, was also accused of stabbing the
\nstudent, but denied the charge.<\/p>\n
The brawl pit two schools in Kebon Kacang district against
\neach other: senior high school SMU VII -- to which the seven
\ndefendants belonged -- and senior technical high school STM 13,
\nthe school the victim went to.<\/p>\n
The seven defendants, who quit school following their arrests,
\nwere charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code for using
\nviolence toward another and causing death. If found guilty they
\ncould face a maximum 12 years' imprisonment.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Sergeant F. Rizal, the police officer who
\ninterrogated Mahesa, said the defendant admitted beating the
\nvictim and that no coercion was used during questioning.<\/p>\n
Rizal stood by his testimony as judges Soebardi and Alboin
\nSianipar questioned him whether he forced an admission of guilt
\nduring the interrogation.<\/p>\n
The trial, which began in February, heard the testimony of at
\nleast 20 witnesses. It was adjourned until July 25 to hear the
\nsentence demand by the state prosecutor. (12)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/student-denies-role-in-fatal-beating-1447893297",
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