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.