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.