Seremban - The recently-concluded Asian Karate Championship was marred by the last-minute pull-out of the Indonesian team after one of its officials was allegedly beaten up by plainclothes policemen.
The official, who is Indonesia`s chief karate umpire Donald Pieter Luther Kolopita, was allegedly handcuffed and assaulted by four men said to be policemen.
The alleged incident occurred early Friday morning in Nilai when Kolopita was walking back to his hotel.
"We have received two reports regarding the incident, one from the victim and one from the police. We are investigating the matter," Negri Sembilan police chief Datuk Mohd Noh Kandah said.
It is also learnt that police have alleged that Kolopita tried to fight back and flee when the detectives tried to arrest him.
AFP reported that four plainclothes policemen jumped out of a van and tried to arrest Kolopita. He was allegedly assaulted even after he was handcuffed. He was later taken to the Nilai police station.
"We were invited here and we were not looking to earn money. This treatment is an insult to us," said Indonesia Karate Federation secretary Maxi Pauran.
"Only after a few onlookers came did the men identify themselves as police. Despite Kolopita`s protest that he was an official referee, they did not stop attacking him."
Team members and officials from the organising committee took the victim to hospital.
He suffered several broken ribs, swollen testicles and swelling on his face which affected his eyesight.
Indonesia Youth and Sports Minister Adyaksa Dault told ElShinta Radio: "How can we not be emotional? We demand that the policemen who engaged in such a savage act be punished."
Adyaksa said he had contacted his Malaysian counterpart (Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said) to protest and had also reported the incident to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"The Malaysian foreign minister (Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar) is due here tomorrow (today) to meet the president over the incident.
"It is unclear whether the minister was travelling here anyway, but his schedule would not normally include a meeting with Susilo."
The championship was held in Nilai on Aug 24 and 25, attracting the participation of 28 countries.
Source: www.nst.com.my (30 Agustus 2007)
