Theo declared suspect in assault

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board Theo Toemion has been declared a suspect for allegedly assaulting students during a basketball game at the Jakarta International School (JIS) in South Jakarta last April, city police said on Friday.

Chief of the general crime unit of Jakarta Police Sr. Comr. Suhardi Alius said that after questioning several witnesses, including the victims, police had named Theo as a suspect in the assault that took place last April 17.

"We have named him a suspect in the assault case. We are now trying to complete the case file as soon as possible," Suhardi said.

Suhardi said police just needed to question one more victim to complete the investigation before submitting Theo's case file to state prosecutors.

"We have sent our team to Singapore to question a victim. We are waiting for the last victim to return from Houston to give us information before we submit (Theo's) case file to prosecutor's office," Suhardi said.

Theo allegedly slapped a 14-year-old student referee identified as CR and scuffled briefly with foreign residents at JIS during a basketball competition in which Theo's seven-year old son was playing.

Theo, a former Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) legislator, admitted to slapping the referee on the face, trying to grab the shoulder of a woman coordinating the competition and overturning furniture after his son was fouled out of the game.

CR and the competition coordinator identified as DM did not report the case to police. JIS also did not report the matter.

By law, police may investigate an assault case with or without a report from the victims.

Article 351 of the Criminal Code sets a maximum sentence of two years and eight months for assault while Article 369 says an individual can receive a maximum punishment of four years jail if he or she is found to have threatened others.

Police said earlier that they have questioned a U.S. citizen identified as TR, who testified that he saw Theo assaulting foreigners.

Police have also questioned Second Brig. Sofyan, a member of city police vital installations protection unit, Riyo Santoso, security head of JIS, and two of his assistants, Tatang and Junaedy. All of them were on duty at the school when the incident took place.

Suhardi said his investigators had difficulties in resolving the case as all of the victims had moved to work to Singapore because their Indonesian working permits had expired.