Air Force officer held for abusing houseboy

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Police have detained an Air Force first lieutenant for allegedly abusing his male housekeeper, an official said yesterday.

Deputy Commander of the Jakarta Military Police Lt. Col. Darmadi said First Lt. Setiabudi, who works at the Air Force Headquarters, was picked up at his residence in Duren Sawit Baru housing complex, East Jakarta, on Wednesday evening.

"He confessed to having severely beaten and burned his 24-year-old houseboy, Suparjo, who has been under intensive care at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital since the attack," Darmadi told The Jakarta Post.

Setiabudi is being detained at the military police headquarters in Guntur, South Jakarta, pending further investigation.

"We are currently trying to establish the motive for the attack. He has told officers that he lost control.

"Basically he said he was upset because of his family's financial problems. Apparently he took his anger out on the poor houseboy," he said.

Setiabudi was arrested several hours after he reported his own crime at the East Jakarta Police precinct.

According to East Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Syahrir Kuba, Setiabudi at first confused the authorities with his honest action.

"After noting down his confession we let him go home under police escort while some of my men tried to verify his claim," Syahrir said.

The police then contacted the military police and handed over dossiers on the case to them.

Suparjo, the houseboy, received severe wounds to his face, back and feet.

He told media on Wednesday that his employer frequently struck him with metal bars and beat him on the face.

Setiabudi could be charged with abuse under Article 351 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment. (edt)