Theo: Media exaggerated violent incident at JIS

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Theo Toemion clarified on Sunday his involvement in a recent incident at the Jakarta International School (JIS), which he said had been exaggerated by the media.

Theo admitted, however, that he was unable to control his emotions, although he denied punching an expatriate woman or punching a teenage referee that resulted in a broken nose during the April 17 incident that marred a basketball game for kids.

"I was emotional. I apologized and I should not have done that," he told The Jakarta Post while showing a video tape of the game he shot himself.

There is no footage of the incident, which Theo said was sparked by discriminatory treatment toward his seven-year-old son Daniel, a first-year elementary student who was playing for the second-year students team, the Lakers, who were facing the Mavericks.

The black and white video tape recording shows Daniel, wearing jersey No. 35, come out of the bench in the second and fourth quarters, during which he ran mostly without the ball.

Daniel was seen committing a foul once after a fight for the ball in the fourth quarter, when his team was coming from behind to take a 6-4 lead.

Theo said his son was given marching orders after Maverick team coordinator Michelle Mabee intervened. Her son was playing for the Mavericks.

The recording shows Theo's wife apparently involved in an argument with Mabee, which ended up with the latter turning back to her squad. The game was suspended when the quarrel involving non-players took place.

Theo said that after hearing his wife's account of the exchange with Mabee, he himself came to her to seek an explanation for Daniel's removal.

"She avoided me by saying there was no problem. I chased her to get her explanation," Theo said. Several people held him back and tried to stop him, but he resisted, according to him.

Theo said he was also offended by rude remarks made by Mabee and several expatriates.

When asked why he ran after Mabee, instead of the referee, Theo said he just could not let her intervene in the game.

"If I had not acted explosively, who would be the next victim? It was just a children's game," Theo said, adding that it was Mabee who suggested that Daniel be included in the team for the match.

Local media had reported that Theo threw chairs and attacked the 14-year-old referee and several other expatriates after his son was fouled out for rough play.

Theo refused to talk about the alleged violence on Sunday, saying he was very irritated by the media reports on the incident.

"I did slap the referee in the face, but nobody broke a nose," he said.

JIS headmaster Niall Nelson said in a written statement that several people were struck, including one person who suffered a broken nose and another who required stitches for a head injury.

"If anybody wants to report it to the police, please do so. We will explain what actually happened," Theo said.

He added that following the game, his son stopped playing basketball, his favorite sport.

"Several Americans and other friends kept calling my wife to encourage Daniel to keep playing basketball," he said. (004)