Jakarta – Unknown people have assaulted a homeless man in Bogor over his assumed membership of the long-defunct Indonesian Communists Party (PKI).
A recording of the incident, widely spread on Facebook and WhatsApp since Saturday, attracted the attention of the police. Bogor Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Andi M Dicky clarified that the homeless man was not a member of the PKI.
"After investigating, we found that the victim is homeless and may be suffering from mental illness. We will assess his mental state [Monday]," said Dicky on Sunday, as reported by tribunnews.com.
The video, which was taken in Cileungsi, Bogor, showed the victim at the receiving end of violence.
Six suspects alleged to be linked to the recording have been arrested for questioning. Police do not yet know why the homeless man was accused as being a PKI member. (jlm)