Theo expected to have his day in court shortly
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police say they are close to completing the case file in an assault case involving former Investment Coordinating Board chairman Theo Toemion and submitting the file to prosecutors.
The head of the general crimes unit at the Jakarta Police, Sr. Comr. Suhardi Alius, said officers recently questioned one of the alleged assault victims in Singapore. Officers also questioned Theo at police headquarters.
"We questioned one alleged victim in Singapore, and are waiting for another one to return to Singapore from Houston, the United States. All of the victims have moved to Singapore to work because their work permits in Indonesia have expired," Suhardi told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
"I think we will be able to submit the case file to prosecutors within the next two weeks because I believe we already have enough evidence," Suhardi said.
In addition to taking statements from the alleged victim, he said, officers also questioned Theo two weeks ago.
Theo allegedly struck a 14-year-old student referee and scuffled briefly with several foreigners on the campus of the Jakarta International School (JIS) during a basketball game on April 17 in which Theo's seven-year-old son was playing.
Theo, a former legislator with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), has admitted to slapping the referee in the face, trying to grab the shoulder of the woman coordinating the competition and overturning furniture after his son was fouled out of the game.
Article 351 of the Criminal Code calls for a maximum sentence of two years and eight months in prison for assault, while Article 369 stipulates a maximum prison sentence of four years for threatening others.
However, unlike an assault case, which the police can investigate without a complaint being filed, officers can only look into threat cases if someone files a report. There have been no police complaints filed against Theo for threatening individuals.
In the assault case, police have talked with a U.S. citizen identified as TR, who testified that he saw Theo assault several parents and staff of JIS.
Police have also met with Second Brig. Sofyan, Riyo Santoso, the head of security at JIS, and two of the school's security guards, Tatang and Junaedy. All of them were on duty at the school when the incident took place.
Suhardi said the investigation was taking more than a month because several of the alleged victims and witnesses had failed to provide sufficient information about the incident.
"Usually, the investigation into an assault case like this can be completed in a week or two because the victims and the perpetrator can be clearly identified. We hope the alleged victims and witnesses will be more cooperative," he said.