Gamble, slash and lie

JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian student who lost A$15,000 (US$12,000) in a casino in Perth, Australia, slashed his arms and body before telling police he had been robbed and tortured, Antara said yesterday.

Otto Sidharta, the Indonesian consul in Perth, told the news agency that the 16-year old boy later admitted to have lied to the police because he feared the wrath of his parents back home for squandering his school money.

The boy is now in police custody awaiting prosecution for making a false report. Police declined to identify the boy because he is a minor.

The boy had earlier reported to police that he had been robbed of A$10,000 in Forrest Place in the heart of Perth. He said his attackers were Aborigines.

News of the attack was widely publicized by the local media as was the discovery that he had lied.

AFP reported he is due to appear in Perth Children's Court on Monday.

If the court finds the boy guilty, he could face deportation.

The student was to have started Year 11 examinations this week at his private school in Perth's northern suburbs, but he told police he was too distressed by the attack to take part.

Police Detective-Inspector Jim Migro said witnesses had helped in investigations leading to the arrest.

"We received a number of calls from a number of people who had information to support that the youth had given a false report," he said.