Accused says he stabbed policeman in self-defense

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)