By Sarban Singh

SEREMBAN: Four policemen whose alleged beating of an Indonesian sports official sparked off anti-Malaysian demonstrations in several cities in the republic have been ordered to enter their defence.

Magistrate Noralis Mat said the prosecution had proven the allegations against Abdul Aziz Shamsudin, 42, Adi Sebi, 35, Mohd Dzulhafiz Che Zainal Abidin, 23, and Helmi Hussanie Sukri, 22, who were attached to the Nilai police station. She set June 2 and 3 for trial.

The four had allegedly assaulted Donald Peter Luther Kolopitha at around 2am near a hostel at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia in Nilai on Aug 24, 2007.

Kolopitha, who was here with the Indonesian karate team, was a referee at the Eighth Asian Karate Championship held at the Nilai Indoor Stadium.

The four were charged under Section 323 of the Penal Code, which was read together with Section 34 of the same code, for deliberately causing hurt to the victim.

In his police report then, Kolopitha claimed he was going for supper around 2am when a white unmarked van stopped near him and four men got out and pushed him into the vehicle.

He alleged that he was handcuffed and beaten. It was alleged that his assailants took his passport, wallet, watch and money.

He allegedly suffered injuries to his chest and abdomen and was only released hours later and sent to the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital.

Kolopitha claimed he fought the four as he thought they were robbers. The four policemen had alleged that Kolopitha was behaving suspiciously and tried to punch them and run away when questioned.