Dutch-born soccer player Diego Michiels, who is a naturalized Indonesian and has gone on to represent the country in international competitions, has been charged with assault for a bar fight.
Michiels was named a suspect by the Mampang Prapatan Police for allegedly assaulting a British national, identified by the initials DJS, at Eastern Promise pub in Kemang, South Jakarta in May. However, unlike most assault cases, Michiels is not being kept in detention while the police investigation into the case continues.
“He has been named a suspect, but he’s not being detained because he’s been cooperative. The suspect is still allowed to play soccer in the Liga 1 Indonesia (soccer league),” said Mampang Prapatan Police Chief Moch Safi’i, as quoted by Warta Kota today.
Michiels was charged with violating Article 351 of the KUHP (Criminal Code), which carries a maximum two-year prison sentence.
However, the police say there’s a possibility of the victim dropping the charges against Michiels because both of them were under the influence of alcohol during the fight.
“When I showed [Michiels] a photo (showing proof of the fight), he apologized immediately because he didn’t remember what happened,” Safi’i told Kompas.
According to the police investigation, the fight occurred on the evening of May 21 at Easter Promise. Michiels and DJS got into a fight while the two were intoxicated, leading to Michiels smashing a glass on DJS’ head.
This is not the first time Michiels has fallen afoul with the law. He was jailed for 3 months and 20 days in 2013 for his involvement in a brawl in Domain Bar and Club in Senayan City in late 2012.
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