Police to quiz Theo assault victims

Police to quiz Theo assault victims

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City police will question on Monday victims of an assault that
took place at the Jakarta International School (JIS) in South
Jakarta that involved former chairman of the Investment
Coordinating Board (BKPM) Theo Toemion.

City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Sunday that
they would first question two victims, identified as CR and DM,
before summoning Theo the following day.

"We will question the two victims as witnesses on Monday, and
then Theo, probably on the following day," he told The Jakarta
Post.

Tjiptono said earlier questioning of several witnesses had
given police a clearer picture of the case and they may name
suspects this week.

Police have so far questioned a U.S. citizen identified as TR,
who testified that he saw Theo assaulting people at JIS on April
17.

Police have also questioned Second Brig. Sofyan, a member of
city police vital object unit, Riyo Santoso, security head of
JIS, and two of his assistants, Tatang and Junaedy. They were all
on duty at the school when the incident took place.

CR was the 14-year-old referee in the basketball game who was
reportedly slapped by Theo, while DM was the competition
coordinator.

Theo allegedly struck CR and scuffled briefly with foreign
residents at JIS during a basketball competition in which Theo's
seven-year-old son was playing.

Theo, a former legislator with the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI-P), has admitted to slapping the referee on the
face, of trying to grab the shoulder of a woman coordinating the
competition, and of overturning furniture after his son was
fouled out of the game.

Neither JIS nor the victims reported the matter to police at
the time.

Earlier, city police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said that
Theo would be named as a suspect if enough evidence was found.