Theo expected to have his day in court shortly

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.