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n 11-year-old boy accused of attacking and killing his foster mother in Ciracas, East Jakarta, two weeks ago, met with his biological mother Thursday in an emotional reunion at the East Jakarta Police station.

After almost five years without any contact with his family following the devastating tsunami that struck his hometown in Nias, North Sumatra, in 2004, Musa (not his real name) could no longer speak the local dialect, while his mother, Norberta Niziami Ndruru, 59, could not speak Indonesian, giving the reunion an awkward start.

"They both broke out into tears after his mother held his head and touched his neck, where he has a scar from years ago," said National Commission for Child Protection secretary-general Arist Merdeka Sirait.

"*Musa* is the youngest of five children in the family. He still remembers his older brothers' names.

"His real name is different from his current name as shown in his baptismal letter."

The reunion, facilitated by the commission, was meant to help shed light on the history of the boy.

Musa had admitted killing his foster mother, Etty Rochyati, with a wooden plank, a hammer and a knife, because he felt badly treated by her.

He also told police he had done it because his "longing and plea to look for his family" was ignored by his foster parents.

The tsunami that also ravaged Aceh province, killing more than 170,000 people, also claimed the life of Musa's father and split the family. The boy was reportedly adopted by a family in Medan and then he brought by another family to Jakarta.

Norberta said she was happy to meet her long lost son.

"But I can't believe he could kill someone," she said through a translator. "He was a good boy and never did anything violent."

East Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Hasanuddin said investigators were finalizing the dossiers on the case.

"So far, the boy is the sole suspect in the aggravated assault," he said.

"But since he's still under the age of 12, we will treat him as a child and place him in a special center for juveniles."

Children's commission chairman Seto Mulyadi said he hoped the reunion would serve as a precedent for law enforcers to better treat children in legal trouble.

"I hope we can start learning that children on the wrong side of the law should be treated as victims rather than criminals," he said, oblivious to the fact that someone had been brutally murdered.

"Many kids, including this boy, have been exposed to adverse environments that lead them to commit crimes."

He added officials from the commission, the police, the Social Services Ministry's correctional center, the prosecutor's office and family representatives would meet next Tuesday to discuss recommendations for Musa.

"We may recommend the court allow the state to correct the boy to let him study and get a job before returning him to his family," Seto said.