City police chief: ‘I'm responsible for Ampera incident’

Jakarta police chief Insp. Gen. Timur Pradopo has claimed responsibility for the police's failure to prevent a clash between two ethnic groups in South Jakarta, which claimed three lives and injured a dozen people.

Speaking in a meeting with leaders of ethnic organizations at the city hall on Friday evening, Timur said the police had actually deployed adequate number of officers to secure the South Jakarta District Court but had never expected that the groups would fight outside the building.  

Last week, members of the two groups had fought just before the court heard a deadly brawl case involving them at Blowfish Kitchen and Bar in South Jakarta in April.

"What you have seen on TV is what really happened there... I openly admit that I'm the one who is responsible for the incident," he said.

Timur said the police was now conducting a thorough investigation into the case and asked the public to patiently wait for the result.

"I just need the public trust," he said.

Widely circulated rumors say the clash was allegedly triggered by a long-standing conflict between the two groups over concession on security business in the city.