Teenagers arrested for fatal attack

Teenagers arrested for fatal attack

JAKARTA (JP): Three teenagers have been arrested for allegedly
beating a youth to death in Kembangan district, West Jakarta,
city police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday.

Aritonang identified the three as Topan Bin Samari, 19, M.
Rojali, 18, and Jeny, 18.

"The three admitted during interrogation that they were among
a group of at least six people who beat the victim following an
argument believed to have been sparked by the victim on Sunday
evening."

He said police were still looking for the teenagers' three
friends.

The suspects may face a maximum penalty of 12 years in jail
for violating Article 170 of the Criminal Code if found guilty of
beating a person to death.

Aritonang said that about 10 p.m. Sunday the victim, Deni
Setiawan, 17, and at least five of his friends took a shortcut
out of the Unilever housing complex by jumping over a wall.

But one of Deni's sandals became stuck between the wall's iron
bars, he said.

"Another group of youths began laughing when Deni tried to
retrieve his sandal."

He said Deni had apparently felt insulted, so he challenged
the youths to fight.

"Maybe he challenged the group because he was sure his friends
would help him. But, unfortunately, his five friends ran away
when he approached the group."

Aritonang said the youths who attacked Deni lived in a nearby
estate.

"Both Deni's group and his rivals were apparently (school)
dropouts and unemployed."

One of the arrested teenagers, Topan, told interrogators that
he and the others were not laughing at Deni, he said.

"We were talking about a girl in our neighborhood, not about
him or his sandal. But he suddenly came to us, accusing us of
making fun of him," Topan was quoted as saying.

Aritonang said Deni died before other people, who tried to
break up the fight, could take him to a hospital. (cst)