Yapto's son detained in cafe owner beating

JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives have detained Yedidiah S.K. Soerjosoemarno, son of the chairman of the Pemuda Pancasila youth organization Yapto Soerjosoemarno, for the alleged physical assault of a cafe owner last Saturday.

A police detective from the crime and assault unit said on Thursday night that Yedidiah, 21, was detained shortly after questioning by city police detectives.

"We questioned him on Thursday, but felt that we needed more information. Yedidiah was detained on Thursday evening shortly after the questioning. His father came to visit him in the evening," the detective, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.

The complainant, Ali S., is owner of Pringo cafe on Jl. Iskandarsyah, South Jakarta. He is the son-in-law of legislator Arifin Panigoro.

The beating reportedly resulted from an argument over Yedidiah's group.

Yedidiah's lawyer, Sofhar Maru Hutagalung, said the fight began when the group was barred from entering the cafe.

"Ali gave a very hurtful reason. He said that Yedidiah should not have brought his hick friends to a cafe. Ali said that such people were not fit to enter his cafe, and that Yedidiah must have friends of a better class than them," Sofhar told The Jakarta Post.

"Yedidiah is sensitive about all his friends. He's a friend of people from the lowest income brackets to the highest. There was a clash because of what Ali said."

Sofhar claimed Yedidiah was not among the people who beat Ali.

The detective laughed at Sofhar's version of events.

"Sofhar is a lawyer. Of course, he'll defend his client," the detective said.

Yedidiah was sentenced to 10 months' probation in March 1995 for beating Achmad Dipoditoro, son of business tycoon and then manpower minister Abdul Latief. Achmad suffered serious facial injuries in the assault. The judge refused the prosecutor's request for a jail term, arguing that Yedidiah, then 16, would be corrupted by mixing with hardened criminals. (ylt)