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Coach named suspect in fatal hazing case in Palembang school
A coach at the semi-military SMA Taruna Indonesia Palembang state high school in South Sumatra has been named a suspect for allegedly beating a student who participated in the school's orientation program, leading to the student's death on Saturday.
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Illustration of bullying at school. (Shutterstock.com/Doloves)
T
he South Sumatra Police named a coach at the semi-military SMA Taruna Indonesia Palembang state high school in Palembang a suspect on Monday for allegedly beating a student who participated in the school's orientation program, leading to the student's death last week.
Obby Frisman Arkataku, 24, a coach at the school, has been detained by the police after autopsy results showing that the victim, Delwyn Berli Juliandro, 14, had sustained injuries to the right side of his head from a blunt object allegedly used by the suspect.
"The coach is not a senior [at the school]," South Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Firli said on Monday.
The police said they had confiscated a bamboo stick allegedly used during the attack as evidence.
The incident occurred on Saturday, the last day of the week-long orientation program, during which new students at the school were required to walk for 13 kilometers.
Feeling exhausted, the victim allegedly uttered harsh words, which apparently led to him being beaten. Delwyn passed out and was subsequently rushed to Myria Palembang Hospital, where he died before any medical action was taken.
If charged and convicted, Obby could face up to 15 years in prison for violating the 2014 Child Protection Law.
Furthermore, the Palembang Police also received another report of alleged violence that had occurred during the school's orientation program, which has been under a spotlight since Delwyn’s death.
Suwito, 43, a father of a student identified as WJ, reported the case to police after his son was admitted to the Karya Asih Hospital in Palembang on Saturday after participating in the orientation program.
The family's lawyer, Firli Data, said that WJ, 14, was in a critical condition and that the student often muttered words such as “Don’t beat me!” and “Forgive me, commander!” while lying unconscious in a hospital bed.
Separately, South Sumatra Education Agency head Widodo said that his office had not found any violations in the orientation program, but would continue its investigation into the case before reporting to the Education and Culture Ministry. (ars/afr)
