District head slammed for beating Pandeglang student

District head slammed for beating Pandeglang student

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Cadasari district head in Pandeglang regency, Banten, Oya
Suryadilaga, has been caught up in an ugly incident at a local
elementary school, where he reportedly slapped a student.

Pandeglang Regent H. Dimyati Nata Kusumah expressed doubt that
one of his top officials could have treated a child so harshly.

"Let me call him in to get to the bottom of this," he was
quoted as saying by Antara on Thursday.

Lutfi told reporters at Cadasari elementary school on
Wednesday that he was slapped by the district head after he had a
classroom fight with Oya's son, Robi, on Saturday.

The fight reportedly began when Robi bumped into Lutfi and the
two exchanged words before hitting each other. The fight ended
with Robi running from the classroom in tears.

Robi ran home and told his father about the fight. Oya became
furious and rushed to the school to "teach" Lutfi a lesson.

According to witnesses, when Oya arrived at the school he went
directly to his son's classroom and called Lutfi's name.

According to Lutfi, it was still recess when Robi's father
showed up, looking very upset.

A number of teachers and students who were taking a break at
the time could do little more than watch in disbelief as the
official grabbed Lutfi by the hair and slapped him on both sides
of his face.

"I wet my pants I was so terrified," Lutfi said.

After slapping Lutfi, Oya reportedly returned home without
talking to any of the teachers.

"We feel his (Oya's) behavior was very disrespectful. Just
because he is a district head, he thinks he can act anyway he
wants. As a civil servant, he should set an example to the
public," said a teacher who asked not to be identified.

Another teacher said the incident between Lutfi and Robi was a
normal schoolboy problem and could have been handled by
teachers.

"Such a violent response should not have been resorted to by
any educated person, let alone a district head," the teacher
said.

Oya admitted that he slapped Lutfi, saying he was
overemotional at the time.

"I made a mistake. Robi is the apple of my family's eye," he
was quoted as saying by Antara.

The district head asked the media not to overblow the
incident, saying he had already explained the situation to the
teachers.

"I have asked the teachers to be more attentive and educate
their students not to attack one another, especially physically,"
he said.

It is not clear whether the police are investigating the case
or whether Oya will be charged with assault.