Seven wrestlers questioned for beating tennis coach

JAKARTA (JP): Police questioned seven wrestlers for assaulting a national tennis coach on Wednesday night at Century Park Athletes Hotel in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

The Chief of the City Police Detectives for General Affairs Lt. Col. Bakat Purwanto said the coach, Wailan Walalangi, told police that at least 30 wrestlers beat him.

"The wrestlers got angry because Wailan warned them to queue at a dinner banquet at the hotel on Tuesday night," Bakat said yesterday.

He said the wrestlers attacked Wailan in his room after threatening him on the phone. "Wailan suffered injuries to his head."

After receiving the report Bakat said the police went to the scene and arrested seven wrestlers, identified only as Nur, Sah, Rah, Her, Tam, Sah and Yo.

"The attackers were released yesterday," he said.

He said Wailan invited a wrestling coach to his room and told him that he had been assaulted and the coach managed to calm his athletes.

Wailan yesterday revoked his report to the police saying he and the wrestlers had settled the problem.

"In the name of national sport and unity, I revoke my report," he said.

Wailan said at the Indonesian Tennis Association office he had just warned one of the wrestlers who skipped a queue at a dinner banquet.

"I'm a coach. I want athletes to give a little respect to me," he said.

Bakat said police would continue to investigate the case.

"If we think the case can be continued, we will process it further. We also base our consideration on the victim's medical examination report."

He said the attackers would be questioned again although they had been released. (jun/yan)