Top cop slapped on wrist for assault

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Former Bogor police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Wasgito has admitted to assaulting one of his subordinates, while his driver was detained on Wednesday for causing severe injuries in the attack.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Aryanto Boedihardjo said that Bambang would be charged under Article 352 of the Criminal Code on minor assault.

The driver, Chief Brig. Darmawan Manik, will be charged with a more serious offense of assault resulting in death or severe injury.

"Based on our investigations, Bambang only slapped the victim while it was Darmawan who carried out the assault," Aryanto said.

Bambang assaulted the 53-year-old Adj. First Insp. Wawan Setiawan, the intelligence and security unit head of North Bogor police, earlier this month upon receiving news that his son Tri Rianto Andika Putra, 15, had been attacked by unidentified persons.

Wawan, who was at the crime site but didn't recognize Tri, was unsuccessful in apprehending the attackers.

Bambang called Wawan to come to the Central Bogor Police subprecinct, where he was assaulted.

Wawan fell unconscious immediately after arriving home and was rushed to hospital.

Aryanto denied reports that Bambang ordered Darmawan to assault Wawan.

However, Aryanto said that Bambang was still being questioned at National Police headquarters and there was still a possibility that he would be charged with more serious crimes.

Bambang was replaced by Sr. Comr. Tjiptono, formerly the spokesman to the Jakarta Police, following an investigation by the internal affairs division earlier this month.