Student nabbed for fatal street brawl

JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested an 18-year-old technical senior high school student suspected of persuading his classmates to participate in a street brawl in which one student died on Saturday in front of Lebak Bulus bus terminal in South Jakarta.

The student, Yoso Hendarso bin Darsono of STM Borobudur technical high school, was arrested on Sunday after police obtained information from one of his classmates, whose identity was not disclosed.

"During questioning, he admitted his role," a city police detective, who declined to be named, said on Monday.

In the brawl, 17-year-old Eko Kurniawan of state SMU 46 in Cirendeu, Ciputat, died of severe head wounds and two stab wounds to his chest and back.

"Yoso disclosed to the police that he and his friends had been told that SMU 46 students were on their way to attack STM Borobudur. So before the students from the rival school arrived, they waited in front of the bus terminal," the officer said.

The detained student said he used his belt, which had an iron buckle, in the brawl and not sharp weapons. The belt apparently hit Eko's head.

"And as soon as the victim fell down on the street, other students mobbed him," the officer quoted Yoso as saying.

Eko is the fourth student killed in street fights in the capital in the past two weeks. (emf)