Accused says he stabbed policeman in self-defense

JAKARTA (JP): A teacher accused of killing a police major told the East Jakarta District Court yesterday that he stabbed the victim in self-defense.

"Maj. Noenang Kohar's car cut off the bajaj that was carrying me, he got out of the car and, without saying anything, struck me hard in the face," Baskoni Wahab told the court, presided over by Toni Hartono.

A bajaj is a three-wheeled passenger transportation vehicle.

The accused added that, after slapping him, the policeman pulled him out from the bajaj. "I asked him why he had slapped me, and he said, 'Why did you call me a dog?' and struck me again."

Baskoni said he parried the second strike and then stabbed the policeman in the stomach with a knife.

Maj. Noenang Kohar was the head of the Pademangan police sub- precinct in Central Jakarta.

The incident that claimed Noenang's life took place on Jl. Wismajaya, East Jakarta, on July 14.

The accused said the trouble began when Noenang, driving a Daihatsu Taft, pulled in front of the bajaj in which he was traveling from the left and sounded his horn loudly.

Baskoni admitted to shouting "dog" at Noenang, who, he said, had tried to stop the bajaj earlier. "I asked the bajaj driver to turn and keep going. Noenang managed to stop the bajaj after it had traveled another kilometer.

The defendant said that he was upset after the incident and had told his relatives about it.

"I told my relatives that I had got involved in an incident and that, as an educator, I had to take responsibility," Baskoni said, adding that his family had agreed with his decision to turn himself in to the police.

Baskoni Wahab is a senior teacher at a private economic high school in Cawang, East Jakarta.

He said his relatives suggested that he ask a lawyer from the Legal Aid Institute to accompany him to the police.

However, Baskoni was arrested before going to the institute.

The trial was adjourned until Nov. 1.(29)