Police officers tried for assault

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta

Eight officers from the Central Jakarta Police's riot squad went on trial on Monday on charges of assaulting students as they staged a rally in February in front of the Supreme Court building.

The defendants are First Privates Joko Prasetyo and Siswanto, both 25, and Second Privates Ahmad Juli Nasution bin Muslim, 25, Amin Septadi, 21, Dedi Yanto bin Ahmad, 22, Didik Kuncoro bin Kusno, 23, Samri Simamora, 21, and Teguh Sukamto, 20.

Prosecutor Chaerul told the opening hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court that the defendants had "disobeyed their superior's orders to restrain themselves" when the demonstration turned into an ugly melee between the students and the police.

"Witness testimony shows that the defendants also kept on beating and kicking the students even after they were on the ground," Chaerul said.

The officers are charged with violating Article 170 of the Criminal Code on excessive use of force.

The article carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison should death ensue.

The incident took place on Feb. 12 when some students staged the initially peaceful rally to put pressure on the Supreme Court not to acquit House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung in a graft case.

Some 100 riot police officers were deployed to prevent the students from entering the court grounds, and from clashing with some 500 supporters of Akbar.

At about 3 p.m., the demonstration became violent when the students tried to storm the building upon learning that the court had let Akbar walk free.

Some 60 students were injured and had to be hospitalized, most of them suffering from severe head wounds. At least one student sustained a fractured skull, while several others suffered broken arms and legs. Police claimed that 10 of the officers were injured.

The injured students are to testify during the trial.

The presiding judge, Suripto, told the court, which in an apparent show of force was packed with around 50 of the defendants' colleagues, that the trial would resume on Aug. 18 to hear witness testimony.