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ko Prasetyo, a 22-year-old resident of Jatinegara in East Jakarta who was badly injured during the chaotic eviction of Kampung Pulo residents last month, has made a partial recovery. He was allowed to check out from St. Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta earlier this week.

St. Carolus Hospital spokeswoman Maulina said that he had checked out from the hospital on Tuesday accompanied by his family.

'€œHis condition is getting better and he doesn'€™t suffer any physical defects. But he may still experience minor headaches for several days ahead because his head was severely injured,'€ Maulina told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Eko was hospitalized in the intensive care unit on Aug. 20 as a result of serious injuries to his head after receiving heavy blows during the riot on the first day of the eviction of Kampung Pulo residents in East Jakarta.

On that day, Eko was picking up his younger sibling, who goes to public elementary school SD Balimester 01, which is near the location where the evictions took place.

Eko'€™s cousin Yani said that Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers suddenly pulled him over and assaulted him. Eko was then arrested and taken to the East Jakarta Police headquarters.

Eko was eventually released and taken to the hospital after others who were arrested for the riot told the police that he was not a Kampung Pulo resident.

Eko, who was later identified as a resident of Gang Banten in Balimester, Jatinegara, suffered severe injuries to his forehead and temple. He required surgery due to a ruptured blood vessel in his brain. The city administration has promised to pay all of his medical bills.

Three weeks after the incident, East Jakarta Police are still conducting investigations to find the suspects.

East Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Umar Faroq said that the police had questioned six witnesses, including several Satpol PP officials.

'€œWe still need to gather more evidence,'€ Umar said.

According to Umar, the chaotic conditions on the ground at that time made it very difficult for the police, military officers and Satpol PP to distinguish between residents who were perpetrators and innocent passersby. '€œThat'€™s what happens in such a hectic situation,'€ he added.

However, Umar said that if Satpol PP officers were found guilty, they would be charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code on vandalism and assault that carries a seven-year maximum sentence, in light of the victim'€™s severe injuries.

The police were also still investigating to confirm that Eko was not involved in the Kampung Pulo riot.

Meanwhile, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has indicated that Eko was wrongly arrested.

'€œThe investigation is still ongoing. We are still gathering information and evidence,'€ Komnas HAM commissioner Ansori Sinungan told the Post.

Ansori said that he was sure that the suspects were Satpol PP officials, but did not know their exact identities.

'€œEko is a resident. In such a situation, those who attacked residents must be officials. It was impossible that residents attacked other residents,'€ he said.

The commission, Ansori added, would keep monitoring Eko'€™s condition to make sure that there would be no ongoing mental trauma. (foy)