Three students tried to killing freshman

JAKARTA (JP): Three university students appeared in the West Jakarta District Court Thursday charged with torturing a freshman to death during a military training course.

Prosecutor Sriyono said Tjung Kim Fui, 21, Budi Sutanto, 22, and Tumpal Saragih, 25, students at the private Tarumanegara University, fatally beat and trampled on The Manto, a student regiment recruit, on Jan. 28 and 29, 1995.

He said that on Jan. 28, the three defendants ordered Manto and other 12 regiment recruits to do physical training.

Sriyono said Manto was not strong enough to complete a midday running exercise so Kim Fui hit him with a piece of wood.

When the recruits were ordered to lie on their backs the three defendants trampled on Manto's stomach with their boots.

Later, when Manto was too weak to hold a gun during a marching exercise, Budi and Tumpal kicked him in the stomach, the prosecutor said.

He said Manto was tortured every time he could not do what he was ordered.

Manto died the following day while he was being bathed, Sriyono said. He was too weak too wash himself.

There three defendants were charged under Article 351, Paragraph Three of the Penal Code. If found guilty they face a maximum seven years jail.

Previous reports said that two days before he died, Manto won a fight against his senior officer. Manto held black belt in tae kwon do.

Tarumanegara university has had 50 student regiments since it was established in 1965.

Student regiments are groups of students interested in military training. The activities are under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Defense and Security.

The hearing was adjourned until next week. (05)