Brawl over frying pan sends three inmates to hospital

TANGERANG (JP): Three inmates were rushed to the hospital after being injured in a brawl over a frying pan at the men's penitentiary on Jl. Veteran in Tangerang, on Tuesday morning.

The two inmates who allegedly triggered the incident were taken in for questioning by the police.

Tangerang Police chief Insp. Sumanto identified the injured as TD Setiawan, alias Iwan, 25, who was sentenced to two years in prison for embezzlement, Sardini, 36, a drug convict, and Jimmy, who is serving a 41-month sentence for robbery.

Sumanto said the two suspects detained in the brawl were Tasbullah and Sukarman, both of whom are serving eight months for assault. The two were scheduled to be released on Aug. 24, but the officer said they were now likely to remain behind bars because of the brawl.

"Tasbullah and Sukarman will be tried again, charged with violating Article 170 of the Criminal Code on assault. We hope this makes other inmates think twice before starting brawls in the penitentiary," Sumanto told The Jakarta Post.

Quoting statements from several guards and inmates, Sumanto said the brawl began at about 8 a.m. It began when Tasbullah and Sukarman, who are housed in Cell Block F, attempted to take a small frying pan belonging to Iwan, who is housed in Cell Block A.

"Since Iwan wanted to use the pan, he tried to resist. Tasbullah and Karman became angry and beat up Iwan, who would not give up," Sumanto said.

"Several guards intervened and took Iwan, who suffered stab wounds above his eyes, to the penitentiary doctor," he said.

He said that while Iwan was being treated, rumors began to spread through Block A that Iwan had been stabbed in the eye after being mobbed by inmates from Block F, most of whom come from North Jakarta. The rumors sparked the anger of the 146 inmates in the block, most of whom are from West Jakarta.

The inmates, armed with stones, clubs and shards of glass, then stormed Block F.

Sardini and Jimmy, both of whom are housed in Block D, were wounded when they attempted to intervene in the brawl. It is unclear who attacked Sardini, who received injuries to his head, mouth, left arm and stomach, and Jimmy, who was stabbed in the back.

Sumanto said there was a high wall separating Block A from Blocks D, E and F, which are in the same row. As the inmates from Block A were about to break through the fence, several police officers arrived.

The officers fired several warning shots after being pelted by stones. More police officers were deployed to the scene -- about 100 officers in total arrived at the penitentiary, and by 9 a.m. they had managed to take control of the situation. The officers seized six sharp homemade weapons, dozens of clubs and numerous stones used during the brawl.

"We will place 10 police officers at the penitentiary for at least two days to prevent any more brawls," Sumanto said.

The warden of the penitentiary, Paulus Sugeng, was on leave and could not be reached for comment, while penitentiary officer Raja Grand, who handed over the suspects to the police, refused to answer questions. (01)