Jakarta – A student reported a security guard at the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) office to the Jakarta Police on Thursday for allegedly beating him and an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver last month.

Untung Suropati, 21, a law student at the Indonesian Christian University (UKI), said the assault was unjustified as he believed he had not done anything wrong. "It just shows their arrogance, unjustifiably battering innocent people."

The incident happened on June 12 when he was taking an ojek from Cililitan, East Jakarta, to Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta. As they passed the BIN office on Jl. Kalibata they were stopped by Erik, a security guard. Two cars then backed out of the building and hit the motorcycle.

"After the two cars left, that security guard and two of his friends beat the ojek driver, Lukman," Untung said. "I tried to run away but they got me and beat me also." He said the security guards at the agency took them to an office and intimidated them, saying they were to blame for the incident. "We were hurt. My nose was bleeding," he said, adding that some of the security guards displayed their guns to the two.

Untung said that Lukman told him five men from BIN had been looking for him after the incident. "I've tried to find him so that we can report the case together. But it seems that he's avoiding me," Untung said.

Nurkholis Hidayat of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) said BIN should officially and openly clarify the incident.

"We can't take this as a personal matter," he said. Untung has sent a letter to Kompas daily, which was printed in July 3 edition, detailing his experience, but BIN has yet to respond to the allegations.

"I can't take what they have done to me. I'm not an outlaw, there was no need for them to beat me and threaten me with a gun. They are security officers. They are not supposed to take the law into their own hands," he said.

Nurkholis said that in the report to the police, his client charged Erik with violating the Criminal Code on "unpleasant acts". "LBH Jakarta will send a letter to BIN chief Syamsir Siregar to clarify the incident," he said.

The Jakarta Post contacted an officer at BIN but he said he could not comment on the matter. He said only BIN as an institution could talk to the press.