Four Americans detained for 'assault'
Multa Fidrus and Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang, Jakarta
Four Americans along with dozens of their employees have been arrested by the Tangerang Police for allegedly assaulting two workers at swimsuit producer PT Natural Selaras II in Olex Industrial Plant in Balaraja, Tangerang regency, Banten.
Tangerang Police chief of detectives Insp. Ade Arie said that the four American citizens have been placed in Tangerang Penitentiary pending investigation.
"We arrested them early morning on Monday. As of now, we are still examining them," he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Ade identified one of the Americans as Scott Soura, 40, CEO of Los Angeles-based Manhattan Beachwear, the sole buyer of PT Natural Selaras II.
The police identified the three others as Joshua, Michael J. Keanely and Bouzan Timothy, a private investigator from Massachusetts.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m., when dozens of men are alleged to have forced their way into the factory compound after breaking down the front gate, which was guarded by several workers.
Witnesses said that the men attacked the workers and removed factory equipment.
"After receiving reports from the workers, we immediately sent officers to the factory and picked (the suspects) up for questioning," Ade said.
Ade confirmed the alleged assault and identified the victims as Emen and Agus.
Soura's lawyer, Zaki Tanjung, said his clients were being detained by the police, but dismissed allegations that they had assaulted the workers.
"They were detained because of unpleasant behavior, not for attacking (anyone). Who attacked who? Look, my clients were in the car back then.
"You see, all the equipment and the factory belongs to my clients. So why can't he claim his property?. Everything happened because some thugs guarded and prevented my clients from claiming things that were his right," he told the Post.
Four Americans along with dozens of their employees have been arrested by the Tangerang Police for allegedly assaulting two workers at swimsuit producer PT Natural Selaras II in Olex Industrial Plant in Balaraja, Tangerang regency, Banten.
Tangerang Police chief of detectives Insp. Ade Arie said that the four American citizens have been placed in Tangerang Penitentiary pending investigation.
"We arrested them early morning on Monday. As of now, we are still examining them," he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
Ade identified one of the Americans as Scott Soura, 40, CEO of Los Angeles-based Manhattan Beachwear, the sole buyer of PT Natural Selaras II.
The police identified the three others as Joshua, Michael J. Keanely and Bouzan Timothy, a private investigator from Massachusetts.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m., when dozens of men are alleged to have forced their way into the factory compound after breaking down the front gate, which was guarded by several workers.
Witnesses said that the men attacked the workers and removed factory equipment.
"After receiving reports from the workers, we immediately sent officers to the factory and picked (the suspects) up for questioning," Ade said.
Ade confirmed the alleged assault and identified the victims as Emen and Agus.
Soura's lawyer, Zaki Tanjung, said his clients were being detained by the police, but dismissed allegations that they had assaulted the workers.
"They were detained because of unpleasant behavior, not for attacking (anyone). Who attacked who? Look, my clients were in the car back then.
"You see, all the equipment and the factory belongs to my clients. So why can't he claim his property?. Everything happened because some thugs guarded and prevented my clients from claiming things that were his right," he told the Post.