Four witnesses questioned over Theo's assault case at JIS
Four witnesses questioned over Theo's assault case at JIS
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police have began questioning witnesses in an assault case
involving Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Theo F.
Toemion at the Jakarta International School (JIS) on April 17.
City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Thursday that
four witnesses had been questioned as part of efforts to get a
clearer picture of the incident.
"We have interrogated four witnesses who saw the incident. We
will continue with the investigation. We regret that JIS has not
given us access to talk with the victims to gather more reliable
data," he said.
Tjiptono hoped that the victims would file a police report and
explained to police authorities what had really happened.
"Not only have they not filed a report but they also barred
our officers from the Cilandak sub-precinct from entering the
school premises," he said.
According to existing laws, police may probe an assault case
with or without the victims filing a complaint.
Article 351 of Criminal Code sets out two years and eight
months' imprisonment as the maximimum penalty for assault. Oddly,
Article 369 says an individual can receive a maximum punishment
of four years' jail if he or she is found to have threatened
others.
However, police can only probe threat cases if victims report
them.
The assault reportedly took place in the sidelines of a
basketball game between the school's first and second graders on
April 17.
Theo's son, Daniel, 7, the only Indonesian taking part in the
game, was apparently fouled out of the game after committing five
infringements.
Theo's wife, who felt that her son had been treated unfairly
as her son's team led the scores, called Theo, who was
videotaping the game.
Theo tried to protest, but the referee, a 14-year-old child,
and an adult panel of adjudicators ignored him. Flying into a
rage, Theo allegedly knocked the child referee down.
Several adults, including parents who intervened and tried to
calm the situation down, were also allegedly assaulted by Theo
and his brother-in-law.
Meanwhile, JIS said in a statement on Thursday that several
people had been struck in the melee, including one person who
suffered a broken nose and another who later required stitches
for a head injury.
"One of the primary actors in this event has apologized in
writing to other persons present at the event, to JIS and to the
JIS community. This is an important first step in resolving this
matter," the statement said.
Tjiptono said they would wait for more complete information
before naming suspects in the case.
"We really hope that the school cooperates and helps us gather
more evidence to be able to start to call more witnesses," said
Tjiptono.