UI denies media reports

UI denies media reports

JAKARTA (JP): The University of Indonesia has dismissed media coverage of a trial between one of its students and the dean of its school of medicine as erroneous.

Tjiptaningsih Hadisuryo, the spokesperson for the university, said the trial's coverage by five newspapers and one private television station early this month had been imbalanced and inaccurate.

"The reports might have misled readers and viewers," she said in a written statement made available yesterday.

The student, identified as Rifardi Rifiar, beat up seven junior students who did not fight back, Tjiptaningsih said.

"The beating, which led to one student being hospitalized for 11 days with serious injuries, is against campus regulations," she said.

She denied media reports which said that Rifardi had been involved in an argument with a group of students.

The dean of the school of medicine suspended Rifardi for three months and the university gave him 14 days in which to request a reduced suspension. "The student filed a lawsuit against the dean with the Jakarta Administrative Court instead," the spokesperson said.

The administrative court has officially asked the dean to delay his decision on the suspension of Rifardi. (sur)