Four Marine soldiers arrested for beating civilians

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Sun, 09/21/2008 4:15 PM  |  National

Tanjungpinang Navy Military Police arrested four soldiers after they attacked a TV reporter and three other civilians at a gas station in Tanjungpinang city, Riau Islands, on Saturday night.

"We have detained them and named them suspects. We are still investigating the case," said military police chief Maj. Setiawan, as quoted by Antara news agency Sunday.

Hengki, 27, a journalist at RCTI TV station, became a victim of the violence.

"I was hit while filming (the police) attacking the security guards," said Hengki, who has been a reporter for four months.

He and three other victims were treated at a Navy hospital in the city.

Another victim, Ismail, said the attack had begun when a soldier, queuing to refuel his motorcycle, had become enraged when he was told to move to another line. He later hit a security guard who was trying to calm him.

"When we tried to separate the two, more soldiers came, more than 10 people," said Ismail.

Maj. Setiawan said Navy investigators would question witnesses and promised to enforce the law. (dre)

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.