UI student trial continues

UI student trial continues

JAKARTA (JP): Two students of University of Indonesia told a
court here on Tuesday that they had been beaten for removing
another student's car without the owner's consent.

Erlangga, one of the seven students allegedly beaten by
suspect Rifardi Rifiar on Oct. 26 last year, told the Central
Jakarta district court in his capacity as a witness that Rifardi
ordered all seven first-year students who had removed his car to
line up in front of Rifardi.

"After a spot of verbal abuse, Rifardi hit us, one by one,
down the line," Erlangga said.

The seven first-year medical students at the University of
Indonesia had lifted up Rifardi's car to play basketball -- it
was parked on the basketball court.

Suspect Rifardi was suspended from the university in November
last year. He is now filing a suit against the university rector
at the Jakarta State Administrative Court.

Because Rifardi is his senior, the first-year students
apologized and did not think to hit Rifardi back, Erlangga added.

Rifardi, however, denied that he had beaten up the students
claiming that he had only pushed them around a little for
removing his car without permission.

Erlangga also told the court that Rifardi had visited him with
his mother in tow and asked to be forgiven for hitting him. (14)