Seven arrested after deadly clash between soccer fans

The police have arrested seven people allegedly involve in a brawl between soccer fans at Bung Karno Sports Complex on May 27 that left three dead and five injured.

“Six of them were directly involved, while another one posted a provocative comment about the brawl on his Facebook account,” the police’s mobile detective chief, Adj. Sr. Comr. Herry Heryawan, told reporters.

The suspects have been identified only as RY, BK, AR, ZN, TW, BP and IR. The first six have been charged under the Criminal Code for fatal assault, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment. IR has been charged under the 2008 Information and Electronic Transaction Law for posting the provocative Facebook comment.

The three dead victims in the brawl were identified as Lazuardi, Dani Maulana and Rangga Cipta Nugraha. The incident took place after a match between Jakarta’s Persija and Bandung’s Persib clubs.

The fan bases of both clubs, respectively known as Jakmania and Viking, are well known for their bitter animosity toward each other.

According to Herry, the six suspects – excluding IR – all took part in beating Lazuardi, who reportedly “did not show any hint of excitement” when Persija scored a goal, which led the suspects to look upon him as a Persib supporter.

“The suspects shouted at him that he was a Viking. He tried to run but they intercepted him and that was when the beating began,” Herry said, adding that the investigation was on to track to identify other perpetrators of the assault.(iwa)