Army members face assault charges

PEMALANG, Central Java: Eleven personnel of an Army battalion in Tegal will face questioning for allegedly assaulting a restaurateur here, Central Java military commander Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo said on Wednesday.

Bibit said the Tuesday midnight attack was triggered by a joke made by a relative of the restaurateur.

On the night, deputy commander of the battalion Capt. Imam Rahmat Hidayat and soldiers, who were in plainclothes, dropped by to the restaurant owned by Suwardi Tirus. A relative of the owner told Imam his car's tires were bigger than normal.

Imam was reportedly offended and ordered the attack as soon as he returned home. The restaurant was damaged and the joker was beaten.

"If they are found guilty, they will be punished," Bibit told Antara.

Bibit blamed both his troops and Suwardi's relative for the assault, saying the incident could have been avoided had they controlled themselves.