Aceh police turn down journalist's release plea<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Police in Aceh did not give American journalist William Nessen a
\nchance to breathe fresh air on Thursday, rejecting a request by
\nhis lawyer to release the journalist from detention.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said Nessen might
\nface another charge aside from visa violations.<\/p>\n
\"We're still waiting for information from witnesses,\" Da'i was
\nquoted by Antara as saying, without mentioning the new charge.<\/p>\n
The American was charged with having violated his visa, an
\noffense that carries a maximum penalty of five years.<\/p>\n
The military has also accused Nessen of espionage.<\/p>\n
Nessen's lawyer Amir Syamsuddin said earlier on Thursday,
\nshortly after he arrived in Banda Aceh, that he would submit the
\nrequest for Nessen's release directly to the provincial police
\nchief.<\/p>\n
Amir promised that Nessen would report when necessary for
\nfurther investigation. \"I, and I hope the U.S. embassy, will
\nguarantee that.\"<\/p>\n
According to Amir, Nessen's detention appeared to be based
\nsolely on possible immigration violations, a relatively minor
\noffense that should not require detention.<\/p>\n
Besides, Nessen was not in good health. He was suffering from
\nkidney problems and his body was very weak due to lack of water,
\nAmir added.<\/p>\n
But Aceh Police chief Insp. Gen. Bahrumsyah said: \"Such a
\nrelease is indeed allowed under the Criminal Code, but in the
\ninterests of the investigation, we reject it.\"<\/p>\n
Police said on Thursday that an arrest warrant had been issued
\nagainst Nessen who has been charged with violating Article 50 and
\nArticle 51 of Law No. 9\/1992 on immigration which carries a
\nmaximum sentence of five years imprisonment or a Rp 25 million
\nfine.<\/p>\n
The Banda Aceh District Court sentenced American nurse Joy Lee
\nSadler and British scholar Lesley McCullogh to four and five
\nmonths imprisonment respectively on Dec. 30, 2002 for violating
\ntheir tourist visa.<\/p>\n
Nessen surrendered himself to the Indonesian Military (TNI) on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Under martial law imposed on May 19, the military has the
\nauthority to detain Nessen for 20 days or until July 11.<\/p>\n
Nessen came to Indonesia as a journalist with the San
\nFrancisco Chronicle, but police said the New Yorker failed to
\nprove it or to produce his passport. Nessen said he lost his
\npassport when he was trapped in crossfire between government
\nsoldiers and GAM separatists earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Vice President Hamzah Haz called on the police to
\nbe professional in investigating Nessen's case.<\/p>\n
\"Our security personnel should treat him (Nessen)
\nprofessionally. They should not treat him in a way that would
\nviolate legal procedures,\" Hamzah said after the commemoration of
\ninternational day for fighting drug trafficking.<\/p>\n
Hamzah agreed that police should not only look into
\nallegations that the journalist had violated immigration laws but
\nalso his activities while being embedded with GAM.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Solahuddin Al Fatah, a leading Acehnese
\nbusinessman, filed on Thursday a report with the police against
\nNessen for running away with his wife, Sadiah Marhaban.<\/p>\n
Sadiah had demanded a divorce from Solahuddin before leaving
\nhome to marry Nessen.<\/p>\n
\"We will also investigate the report,\" Bahrumsyah said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-police-turn-down-journalists-release-plea-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }