Student denies role in fatal beating

JAKARTA (JP): A senior high school student denied in court yesterday that he beat another student during an interschool brawl in Central Jakarta last December.

Mahesa Chandra Tambunan, 18, who is being tried with six other students, objected to a statement by a police officer who said Mahesa took part in the beating of another student from a rival school -- which led to the latter's death.

"I wasn't even near the victim when he was attacked, because I was hit by someone else before I could get to him," Mahesa said.

He said he had confessed to the beating to police interrogators under duress. "They questioned me from 8 a.m. to midnight and throughout the session they kept yelling and pushing me to admit I did it," he said.

The other six defendants, all 18 years old, admitted in court of their role in beating the student, Adnan Fauzi. One of students, Doni Rossiyana, was also accused of stabbing the student, but denied the charge.

The brawl pit two schools in Kebon Kacang district against each other: senior high school SMU VII -- to which the seven defendants belonged -- and senior technical high school STM 13, the school the victim went to.

The seven defendants, who quit school following their arrests, were charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code for using violence toward another and causing death. If found guilty they could face a maximum 12 years' imprisonment.

Earlier, Sergeant F. Rizal, the police officer who interrogated Mahesa, said the defendant admitted beating the victim and that no coercion was used during questioning.

Rizal stood by his testimony as judges Soebardi and Alboin Sianipar questioned him whether he forced an admission of guilt during the interrogation.

The trial, which began in February, heard the testimony of at least 20 witnesses. It was adjourned until July 25 to hear the sentence demand by the state prosecutor. (12)