Conductor jailed for knife attack

JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta District Court sentenced a 23- year-old man to three months in jail yesterday for slashing a bus passenger's face with a knife.

Presiding judge Dalil Ahmad said the defendant, Odan Siahaan, a bus conductor for a state-owned bus company, attacked Dodi, 24, on Jl. Cempaka Putih, in Central Jakarta, on Aug. 10.

Dalil said the defendant was angry with Dodi because he slandered the bus driver -- Odan's father -- identified as Parlindungan Siahaan, 56.

He said Parlindungan tried to warn Dodi about stepping on the cover which protects the bus' engine (located beside the driver) but he became angry and swore at the driver.

Odan, who was defending his father, became involved in a quarrel with Dodi, who tried to get off the bus and punched the defendant as he was leaving, he said.

Parlindungan stopped the bus and tried to break up the fight but Dodi was apparently still angry and tried to beat the driver as well, he said.

Dalil said the defendant then took a knife from the bus' tool box and slashed Dodi across the face.

A police officer, who happened to be in the area, arrested the defendant, he said.

Odan and prosecutor Lukimanto, who charged the defendant under Article 351 of the Criminal Code and demanded that he serve four months in jail, both accepted the judge's decision yesterday. (jun)