Theo may be declared a suspect in assault case

Theo may be declared a suspect in assault case

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani says former Investment
Coordinating Agency (BKPM) chairman Theo Toemion is likely to be
declared a suspect in an assault case that occurred at Jakarta
International School (JIS) on April 17.

"If all witnesses and victims say that Theo had committed the
assault then we will name him a suspect," Firman said on
Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a U.S. citizen identified as TR told police on
Wednesday that he saw Theo assault several foreigners at JIS.

City police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said TR, who was not
a victim but saw the assault at close range, came to the
headquarters after receiving a summons from the police.

"He came here to explain what happened during the incident and
he said that he saw the assault because he was standing nearby,"
said Tjiptono.

TR is the first foreign witness to be questioned by police
after the U.S Embassy handed over several names, including the
two victims identified as DM and CR, to police after JIS refused
to reveal the identities of the victims to the police.

Police had questioned earlier Second Brig. Sofyan, a member of
city police; Riyo Santoso, the head of security at JIS, and two
of his subordinates, Tatang and Junaedy. All four were on duty at
the school when the incident occurred.

Tjiptono said police had also summoned CR but the boy was
unable to come because he was ill.

CR was the 14-year-old referee in the basketball game who
reportedly had been slapped by Theo.

Tjiptono said that the U.S. Embassy had handed over the
identities of DM and CR last week, together with DM's cellular
phone number.

"We have contacted DM, who is still abroad. So, we plan to
question them on Monday. We got CR's phone number from DM, and we
have also contacted him. He said that he would come today but
didn't show up. We hope he can come here as soon as possible.
Then, we will summon Theo as a witness," he said.

Theo allegedly struck a 14-year-old student referee and
scuffled briefly with other foreigners at JIS during a basketball
competition in which Theo's seven-year old son was playing.

Theo, a former legislator with the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI-P), 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 fouled out
of the game.

The referee and competition coordinator did not report the
case to police, while JIS did not give any information regarding
the incident to police.

According to existing law, police may probe an assault case
with or without a report.

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

However, police can only probe such cases if victims file a
report.