Journalist assaulted for alleged slander

Yemris Fointuna, Kupang

Claiming he had been defamed, JO, a councillor on the East Nusa Tenggara provincial council, launched a gratuitous assault on Tuesday on Benny Djahang, a journalist with the Pos Kupang daily.

The assault took place right in front of the assembled councillors and journalists who were attending a plenary session in the council building.

The incident happened after Benny reported in the daily on Monday that JO, two of his fellow councillors, and 21 civil servants had been apprehended during joint police and military raids on Saturday night while frequenting a number of different entertainment spots in Kupang.

The story made the front page in the daily on Monday, under the headline, "Three councillors and 21 civil servants arrested by security personnel: Some hiding in toilets."

None of them were found to have taken drugs or engaged in sex with prostitutes, and were released shortly after being arrested. However, JO, a councillor with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), felt that the story tarnished his image.

"The story has invaded my privacy. My wife was shocked after reading the story. She was scared that I had taken drugs or had raped someone," JO told a group of journalists on the sidelines of the plenary session on Tuesday.

He suddenly approached Djahang and addressed him threateningly: "Did you write the story? You know what, my wife almost fainted after reading it."

JO, a well-built councillor, poked Djahang in the chest and then grabbed him by the neck. "I'm not afraid to die today. Die today or die tomorrow, it's all the same," he said to Djahang. He left after throttling Djahang for few seconds. As a result of the assault, Djahang suffered reddening and bruising to the neck.