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)