Boxer surrenders after deadly brawl

JAKARTA (JP): Former light welterweight national champion Franki Polii, turned himself in to police on Thursday after being involved in a fight which caused the death of a friend.

Police intelligence chief at the Pulogadung Police subprecinct Second. Insp. Syem Ariel Ekon said the boxer turned himself in at about 4:30 a.m. on Thursday.

"Franki claimed that he killed his friend, Dance Mamengko, in self-defense," Syem told The Jakarta Post when contacted by telephone.

Syem said that Franki, 33, visited Dance's apartment in Pulomas, East Jakarta, on Wednesday night bringing with him a bottle of alcohol known locally as "Rat Brand".

Franki, Dance, 41, and two other friends were soon drunk.

"Franki and Dance became engaged in a nasty argument recounting each other's bad behavior in the past," Syem said, adding that they then got into a fight which was watched by several residents of the apartment complex.

Dance got hold of a sword and tried to stab Franki, Syem said.

"Then at one point when Franki was lying on the apartment floor, a bystander handed him a knife," Syem said.

Franki, number three in his class in the Pan Asia Boxing Association (PABA), stabbed Dance eight times in a counter attack, Syem added.

Franki ran away but later surrendered accompanied by his uncle, K. Masengi, a retired Army Major General. The boxer faces a maximum sentence of seven years, according to the police. (asa/jaw)