Two die of beatings in North Jakarta

Two die of beatings in North Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): A youth and a lecturer of a state-run marine
science academy died of beatings in separate incidents in North
Jakarta.

North Jakarta Police Chief. Lt. Col. Rismawan said yesterday
that Patar Halomoan Malalo, a street youth, died in a house on
Jl. Petukangan Tiga, in Koja, on Sunday night, when he was
attacked by five men.

Rismawan said Patar, who was allegedly intoxicated, quarreled
with the men, identified as Malik, Sutarjo, Ngasimin, Abah and
Iwan.

"Local residents separated them and told Patar and the five
men to go home," he said.

According to Rismawan the men followed Patar to his
girlfriend's house.

He said that Patar, was asleep with his girlfriend when the
men entered the house and surrounded him. "He was beaten with
sticks and stabbed with a knife. He died instantly," he said.

He said that the woman, identified as Yani, escaped during the
struggle and reported the fight to the police.

Police arrived at the scene and arrested the five men in the
nearby area, in an hour, he said.

He said locals said Patar practiced extortion and was often
drunk and disorderly.

According to Rismawan, Patar's brother was lynched at the
hands of a mob, for similar practices several years ago.

The second death occurred at a state-run marine academy (AIP)
on Jl. Gunung Sahari. A lecturer, Suratno Suro, was found
floating in the academy's swimming pool with serious head
injuries yesterday morning.

Rismawan said police concluded that Suro, 53, had tried to
fight his attackers. He said the blood stains near the swimming
pool would seem to indicate this.

"We suspect that Suro was killed by people who lived in the
academy housing complex," said Rismawan.

He said the police were still questioning people, including
students who lived in the academy's dormitory.

The man's wife, Dwi Ningsih said her husband's disciplinarian
ways may have caused antipathy among some of the students and
locals.

Ningsih, an elementary school teacher, said her husband was
once attacked by an unidentified man eight years ago.

The couple, who have three children, lived in the academy
housing complex. (jun)