Unruly police to go to court

JAKARTA: City Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said eight policemen had been named suspects for beating student protesters in front of the Supreme Court on Feb. 12 and would be taken to public courts for trial.

The students were protesting during the reading of the Supreme Court's verdict on Akbar Tandjung's appeal.

The officers are to be charged with violating Article 351 and 352 of the Criminal Code on abuse and torture, which carry a maximum sentence of 32 months and three months, respectively.

On Wednesday, police questioned a number of students as witnesses in the case. Some were victims of police brutality and others were injured by flying bottles, which had provoked the clash.

Febby Dwi Rahmadi, a University of Indonesia student, has a long gash on the right side of his face, from his temple to his eye. He said police investigators were interested as to how he got his injury.

"I told them that when I fell in the stampede, a policeman kicked my face, and then I fainted." -- JP