Soldiers held for manslaughter

JAKARTA (JP): Three men, who claimed to be members of the Air Force, were arrested and three others were being sought by police for their alleged involvement in the beating death of a security officer of a housing estate in Cipondoh, Tangerang, West Java, on Sunday.

A police source said on Monday that the incident began when one of the six Air Force members became involved in an argument with the officer Saturday night.

He said the soldier, identified as ES, felt insulted by the victim's warnings of his late night visit to his girlfriend's house in Taman Jaya D4, Cipondoh.

He said ES came back the next day with his five friends, PS, SH, SP, RD, and JF, and attacked Rusdi, 30, with sharp weapons.

He said Rusdi received fatal stab wounds all over his body.

Three local people, Rudi, Dasuki, and Murdhan, who came to stop the fight, were also wounded.

The three were undergoing medical treatment at Tangerang Hospital.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that Tangerang Police would continue investigating the case and search for SP, RD, and JF, who managed to flee before police caught them.

"If they are proved to be members of the Air Force, they will be handed over to Military Police," Aritonang said. (cst)