Alleged instigator of Bogor brawl surrenders

BOGOR (JP): One of three people suspected of causing last Friday's street brawl, which led to 14 students drowning in Cisadane River, gave himself up to local police on Tuesday.

Head of the Bogor Police detectives, Capt. Wahyu Hadiningrat, said on Wednesday that Ismail, a student counselor of Jakarta's SPM Adhitama maritime high school, surrendered to the police. He was accompanied by school staff member Tugirin.

Police have named Ismail and two other suspects, who are still at large, as being responsible for spreading groundless rumors among maritime high school students in Jakarta about a violent attack on a fellow student by students from a technical high school in Bogor.

Based on the story, which turned out to be untrue, some 100 students from three maritime schools, including SPM Baruna and SPM Karyadharma, left for Bogor by train with the intention of exacting revenge.

After beating students of Bogor's STM Penerbangan technical high school and vandalizing parked vehicles, the visiting students headed in different directions, including to the Cisadane River, to flee from local residents who were trying to stop the brawl.

Fourteen of them were found dead in the river the next day.

Ismail has denied playing any part in the incident.

He said he had no idea about the attack.

According to Ismail, he met with representatives from SPM Baruna and SPM Karya Dharma, but not in preparation for an attack on STM Penerbangan students.

"It was to arrange a school reunion," Ismail said.

In response, Capt. Wahyu said the police would not take Ismail at his word. Detectives are still questioning other students involved in the brawl.

"As of this afternoon, we haven't detained him as a suspect but he's still under intensive questioning," Wahyu explained.

Edmond added that his men were still tracing the whereabouts of the other two suspects. (24/ylt)