Don Bosco bullies detained

South Jakarta Police announced on Thursday that they had detained seven senior students of Don Bosco High School, identified only as AA, AK, GC, KA, RJ, RR and SN, for their alleged involvement in assaulting several freshmen in their school.

The police say that they made the arrests after consulting with various parties.

“We detained them because we think those students –if remaining free- could destroy evidence in the case or even bully other juniors,” South Jakarta Police detective chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hermawan said.

Hermawan said that the investigators had yet to retrieve a sharp tool which was allegedly used to physically abuse the victims. “One of the suspects said that he had disposed of the object,” he said.

Previously, the police had confiscated empty beer bottles, knives and rocks as evidence.

Hermawan said that the seven students showed no signs of remorse. He said that the students proudly said that the so-called “bullying” was in fact common practice by senior students against their juniors. 

“They were not cooperative during interrogation. They even smirked when being questioned by the investigators,” Hermawan said.

All seven have been charged with forceful attack with intent to inflict harm as stipulated in Article 70 of the Criminal Code, and violence against children as stipulated in the 2002 Child Protection Law. The students could face up to 5 years in prison if found guilty.

According to Hermawan, the students will be detained at the juvenile detention center in the Salemba Penitentiary in Central Jakarta for the next 10 days. He hoped that the detention would have a deterrent effect on them.

Hermawan said that the police’s firm treatment of the case should be a cause for concern for other perpetrators.

“We hope that there will be no more bullying cases among students,” he said. (riz/lfr)