Jakarta. An attorney for assault and battery suspect Mario Dandy Satriyo confirmed on Friday that he and a colleague have been handed a termination letter by the young client ahead of the trial.

"We have received the termination letter confirming that I and Basri [Bundu] could no longer represent MDS since April 10," lawyer Dolfie Rompas said.

While claiming that he could accept the termination, Dolfie said that he regretted the timing of the decision and the absence of prior notification.

"There was no talk about this but we respect his decision," Dolfie said.

Mario is accused of attacking 17-year-old David Ozora over a trivial argument. The victim has been at the hospital since he was brutally punched and kicked in the head by Mario while lying on the ground motionlessly in the one-sided confrontation that drew public outrage on Feb.19. 

David is paralyzed by the attack and has difficulties communicating with other people.

Mario is accused of assault and battery that carries a prison sentence of up to 12 years. His trial is expected to begin at the end of this month.

His 15-year-old girlfriend was found guilty of becoming complicit in the attack and sentenced to 3.5 years in the juvenile detention facility on Monday.

Mario is the son of former high-ranking tax official Rafael Alun Trisambodo, who is being detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission for alleged money laundering and undeclared assets.

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