Court acquits Iwik of journalist's murder<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Dwi Sumaji alias Iwik, the sole suspect in
\nthe highly publicized murder of journalist Fuad Muhammad
\nSyafruddin, was acquitted by the Bantul District Court here
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
A panel of judges presided over by Endang Sri Murwati said
\nthat based on the testimonies of witnesses and the suspect
\nhimself, the court found no evidence that Iwik had tortured the
\njournalist on the night of Aug. 13, 1996.<\/p>\n
The journalist, better known as Udin, was beaten by an
\nunidentified person or group of people. He died without regaining
\nconsciousness on Aug. 16, 1996.<\/p>\n
Murwati said two pieces of evidence would have been enough to
\nwarrant a guilty verdict.<\/p>\n
"That is why the panel of judges agreed with the public
\nprosecutors who earlier demanded that Iwik be acquitted," she
\nsaid. "Dwi Sumaji has not been found guilty of committing any
\ncriminal offense."<\/p>\n
Iwik seemed calm when listening to the judges who took turns
\nin reading the verdict. He broke into a smile when the judges
\ndeclared him not guilty.<\/p>\n
"Alhamdulillah (praise Allah). I am so relieved and happy as
\nthey have made a fair decision," he said.<\/p>\n
One of his lawyers, Triyandi Mulkan, also expressed
\nsatisfaction over the decision which he described as meeting the
\npublic's demand for justice. He said the team of legal counsel
\nwas ready to represent Iwik should he decide to sue the police.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Amrin Naim was given tight security in the court
\nsession, which was guarded by some 200 police personnel.<\/p>\n
The verdict said the charges against Iwik could not be proven
\nand he was thus being set free. All costs incurred during his
\ntrial would be borne by the state, it said.<\/p>\n
"Dwi Sumaji's name must be restored," the verdict said.<\/p>\n
The judges also instructed that all evidence, including Iwik's
\nclothes, wristwatch and scooter, be returned to him.<\/p>\n
Other evidence, such as the steel pipe believed to have been
\nused to kill Udin, was to be destroyed, the verdict said.<\/p>\n
Udin was known for his critical reporting about the Bantul
\nregency's administration policies.<\/p>\n
Iwik's arrest drew wide criticism after it became known the
\npolice used some questionable practices during their
\ninvestigation, including the use of alcohol, intimidation and a
\ncall girl to force a confession from Iwik. In addition, police
\ninvestigator Eddy Wuryanto reportedly threw a sample of Udin's
\nblood into the sea to ask for divine help in solving the case.<\/p>\n
Train<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo said the
\npolice accepted and respected the court's decision.<\/p>\n
He also said the police had been serious in handling the case,
\ncomplying with the prosecutors office's orders to complete a new
\ndossier every time the office rejected the document because of
\nvarious flaws.<\/p>\n
"(The prosecutor's office made police go) back and forth like
\na train. Isn't that proof enough of how serious police were in
\nhandling the case?" Dibyo was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
"We respect the ruling but we remain steadfast in our
\nconviction, based on evidence and testimonies, that Iwik was the
\none who ... caused Udin's death," he said.<\/p>\n
Dibyo said that should new evidence or new suspects emerge,
\nthe case could be reopened.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Soegiri and Djoko Moeljono of the National
\nCommission on Human Rights who attended the court session praised
\non Thursday the judges' independence as shown in their ruling.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a lawyer of Udin's wife, Marsiyem, expressed relief
\nat the verdict and said it indirectly served to disprove the
\nallegation earlier made in court that Udin's death was brought
\nabout by his affair with Iwik's wife, Sunarti.<\/p>\n
"This shows that the allegation was unfounded," Budi Hartono
\nsaid. "However, police have therefore tarnished the name of a
\ndeceased person.<\/p>\n
"The National Police chief should apologize to Udin's family,"
\nsaid the lawyer from the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute. (23\/swa)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/court-acquits-iwik-of-journalists-murder-1447893297",
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