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Harley biker gets court warning for assaulting police officer
Bandung District Court on Wednesday granted a provisional release to a Harley Davidson rider on trial for allegedly abusing a police officer
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andung District Court on Wednesday granted a provisional release to a Harley Davidson rider on trial for allegedly abusing a police officer.
The good behavior bond handed down to Jodi Jay Kusuma stipulated that should Jodi commit another offence during the next 12 months, he would be ordered to serve at least seven months in prison.
The verdict apparently disappointed dozens of police officers present at the trial who booed when it was announced.
Presiding judge Nurhakim said Jodi was found guilty of violating the Criminal Code by conducting violent act and threatening an officer on duty.
Nurhakim said the defendant had demonstrated he regretted the offence, as Jodi had apologized personally to Dasep.
He added that the verdict was intended to help correct the defendant’s attitude toward the law.
The prosecutor and defendant’s lawyer said they would need time to respond to the verdict.
According to witnesses, the incident began when Police Brigadier Dasep reprimanded Jodi for having used a siren to lead a convoy through a traffic jam.
Jodi was among a 20-strong convoy of Harley Davidson Club motorcyclists during the Braga Bike Festival in Bandung on Dec. 12, last year.
Jodi had allegedly grabbed Dasep by his uniform, lifting him up and causing his shirt buttons to
rip off.
Unsatisfied, Jodi then followed Dasep to the police headquarters on Jl. Asia-Africa where the former, with his helmet still on, slapped the officer four times.
Jodi, who is reported to be the son of a high-ranking officer and trainer of national bodybuilding athletes, rode away threatening to have Dasep transferred to Papua.
The Wednesday verdict was no where close to the prosecutor’s demand for one year in prison.
The verdict also prompted a policeman to yell out to ask that the judge be investigated to ensure he had not received a bribe.
Dasep and his colleagues who attended the proceeding declined to talk to the media.
Jodi, who was detained until Jan. 12 this year following the incident, walked free out of the court
accompanied by his wife and lawyer.
Bandung Police chief of patrols subdivision, First Insp. Heri, said he was disappointed with the verdict, arguing that it would affect law enforcement.
“[Dasep] is my member, but this case is not personal. It’s about law enforcement,” he said.
“[With this verdict], the public might think they can break the law without consequence.”
