Alleged instigator of Bogor brawl surrenders

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)