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)