Station brawler arrested

JAKARTA (JP): The Sawah Besar police in Central Jakarta have arrested a 43-year-old man for allegedly killing a public notary early Sunday at the Mangga Besar railway station.

"During police questioning today, the suspect, Yusi, a private businessman, admitted to having assaulted the victim. The suspect said he feared being attacked by the victim, who was drunk," City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said yesterday.

The suspect and the victim did not know each other, Iman said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect met Hamdan, the 28-year-old public notary, at the railway station at 4 a.m. on Sunday.

Knowing the man was drunk, the suspect suggested he go home immediately, Iman said. Instead, Hamdan moved towards him so Yusi punched him. The two men then fought in the foyer of the station.

Hamdan collapsed after reportedly being clubbed with a blunt object. He was taken to the nearby Husada hospital. He died four hours later.

The suspect was arrested on Monday morning. (bsr)