Hegel only wants to play soccer after release

Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang

Life will never be the same again for Muhamad Hegel Muthahhari, 8, days after he was freed from his alleged kidnappers. With people focused on a spree of kidnappings, allegedly involving the Saputra brothers, the copycat kidnapping of Hegel quickly caught society's attention.

Even after he returned home safe and sound on Friday, public attention remained. Requests for interviews on television, radio and printed media have occasionally upset him.

"Five new computer discs for one question," he demanded of his mother, Sri Hartati, 36, referring to his hobby of playing computer games.

The mother nodded. "As long as you answer their questions," she said, pointing to a group of journalists interested in hearing the little boy's story.

Even his older sister, Meta Riskia Anisa, 10, teased him, "Now, you're a star. Everybody wants to interview you. You are on TV, radio and newspapers."

"I wasn't afraid (while being abducted). Why should I be? If they kidnapped me again, I'll punch them a hundred times," the boy, clad in red shirt and short pants, said on Sunday after doing a TV interview.

His mother replied, "Says who? Now you ask me to go with you to the bathroom."

Sri said that Hegel, who was abducted on July 30, was still afraid of some strangers although he was as cheerful as before the abduction.

"However, we will be more careful about watching our kids. Starting tomorrow (Monday), I will personally take him to school and pick him up. I don't want to lose him for a second time..." she said, without if it would get in the way of her work at a private company in Jakarta.

Meirizal Zulkarnaen, 40, the boy's father, said that he thanked God that the kidnappers treated his son well during the abduction.

"Hegel looks fine now... There's no sign that he was kidnapped. He doesn't seem to be suffering any depression," he said.

Hegel was lucky. Victims of the Saputra kidnappings were brutally raped and killed while another two were freed although it was not clear if the alleged kidnappers harmed them. The gang remains at large, and are still holding two more children.

Serpong police chief Adj. Comr. Kostbar said that the police were still hunting down two more suspects identified only as Sofyan and Ade.

Police had earlier arrested the alleged mastermind of the kidnapping, Taher Lestaluhu, in Ambon, Maluku, on Saturday. Two other suspects, Jantra and M. Soleh, were arrested in Sawangan and Bekasi respectively on Saturday morning.

A day earlier, police caught Doni Wibisono, who was assigned to care for Hegel, at the Hotel Horison in Ancol, North Jakarta, and Taher's wife Nurul Lestaluhu in Muara Baru, North Jakarta.

It was obvious that Hegel missed Katty, his kitten, and soccer. During the interview, he held Katty and sometimes he took a soccer ball and started to kicked against the wall.

"I can't play soccer now... I can only kick the ball in the front yard," said the fan of Real Madrid's new star David Beckham.

Hegel recalled that the kidnappers bought him three pairs of soccer team uniforms. He was also given a gamewatch and a yoyo.

With police continuing their investigation, Hegel also continues his life. After all the media attention, the boy simply hopes that he will be allowed to play soccer with his friends.