Former athlete beaten to death

JAKARTA (JP): A former national pencak silat athlete was beaten to death Wednesday night by about 20 people in an apparently unmotivated attack near the Klender market in East Jakarta.

The victim was identified as Robinson Hutasoit alias Ucok, 35, a resident of Rawa Bebek, Pulo Gebang in East Jakarta.

Ucok's mother, Pinta Hutasoit, who was undergoing medical treatment at the Bogor general hospital after suffering a stroke, insisted on going to the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital morgue in Central Jakarta yesterday to see her beloved son's body.

"Ucok looked after me when I was sick. It's me who was sick but he's the one who died," 65-year-old Pinta said.

Continuous screams and wailing echoed around the morgue as friends and relatives arrived to join the grieving family.

Ucok was the youngest of seven children, Pinta said, adding that he was harsh at times but very kind. "I am so proud of him," she said.

Ucok won the gold medal in the Jakarta Pencak Silat Championship in 1985 and was selected for the eleventh National Games (PON XI) in the same year. He won a bronze medal at the games, she said proudly.

"He was jobless, but lately he said he wanted to set up a small business of his own," Pinta said.

It is thought Ucok was set upon following a dispute with two unknown people in the Klender market.

After the argument, at about 8 p.m. Wednesday, the two returned with others and attacked Ucok.

"He (Ucok) was a master of self-defense but 20 people were too many for him," a relative who refused to be named said.

He said the mob was finally dispersed by police who arrived at the scene after being alerted by a frightened witness.

Ucok, however, died on the way to the nearby hospital due to the severe injuries he sustained.

The body was then sent to the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital morgue by the Duren Sawit police subprecinct for a post-mortem.

A morgue employee said Ucok's head was nearly broken in two pieces, while his body were marked with several bruises. Both palms had been pierced with sharp weapons. (04)