Policeman detained for Poso attacks<\/p>\n
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu<\/p>\n
A policeman has been detained for his alleged role in spreading
\nterror in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, which recently saw
\nrenewed attacks on the Christian community.<\/p>\n
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Aryanto Sutadi
\nconfirmed on Monday the detention of Second Brig. Efendi at the
\nprovincial headquarters following the recent violence.<\/p>\n
Efendi is the first security officer to be arrested in
\nconnection with the renewed violence in the regency, where
\nsectarian clashes killed some 2,000 people from 2000 to 2002.<\/p>\n
The policeman is accused specifically of involvement in last
\nmonth's murder of Pinedapa village head Carminalis Ndele,
\napparently with a motive to reignite fighting between the Muslim
\nand Christian communities.<\/p>\n
The severed head of Carminalis, 48, a Christian, was found on
\nNov. 1 in the predominantly Muslim subdistrict of Sayo in Poso
\nKota district.<\/p>\n
The head was sealed in a plastic bag with a sheet of paper
\ninscribed with the words: "The Order from the Old People is to
\ntake 1,000 heads".<\/p>\n
Aryanto said Efendi had close ties to Andi Makkassau, an
\nactivist who had been arrested on charges of stealing refugee aid
\nmoney and murdering Carminalis, who refused to go along with
\nAndi's criminal schemes.<\/p>\n
"Second Brig. Efendi has been engaged in several cases of
\nviolence in Poso, including the murder of Carminalis Ndele. He
\nwas one of the suspects who picked up the victim," Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
Andi had confessed to investigators that Efendi not only
\nplayed a role in murdering the village head, but also loaned Andi
\nhis gun for Rp 500,000 (US$55) to attack a church in Poso.<\/p>\n
According to Central Sulawesi Police chief of detectives Sr.
\nComr. Arief Rahim, Andi said he had "used the gun to launch an
\nattack on Bethani Church in early November".<\/p>\n
Andi also admitted that he killed Carminalis in an attempt to
\ncover up his involvement in the Rp 1 billion embezzlement case in
\ngovernment aid allocated for 400 refugee families in Poso.<\/p>\n
Police said Andi had not disbursed the correct amount to
\nCarminalis and other village chiefs entrusted to hand out the aid
\nto refugees victimized by sectarian violence.<\/p>\n
Witnesses told police that Carminalis had refused to accept
\nthe funds from Andi and Efendi when he realized that the amount
\nwas incorrect. Each refugee family was allocated Rp 2.5 million,<\/p>\n
Worried that Carminalis would later report the matter to
\npolice, Andi allegedly hired men to kill Carminalis.<\/p>\n
Apart from Andi, the police had also detained an accomplice,
\nAhmad Laparigi, as another suspect in the embezzlement and murder
\ncases.<\/p>\n
Aryanto said the police were verifying Andi's confession that
\nthe charged policeman loaned him his firearm.<\/p>\n
"We are still investigating him (Efendi). The probe has not
\nyet touched upon the allegations of gun rental; but the suspect
\nhas admitted to picking up the victim (Carminalis) to be
\nmurdered," he added.<\/p>\n
Aryanto further said his office would also summon Central
\nSulawesi Social Welfare Office head Azikin Suyuti and Poso Police
\nchief Adj Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma Sitepu for questioning in the
\ngraft case over the misuse of the refugee aid.<\/p>\n
The summonses for the two officials were sent out following
\nthe suspects' confession that Azikin and other senior officials
\nhad also pocketed the embezzled money, Aryanto said.<\/p>\n
Azikin has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was ready to face
\na police probe.<\/p>\n
According to Aryanto, by August this year alone, Rp 1,192
\nbillion should have been disbursed to the 400 refugee families,
\nbut added that they only received around Rp 500 million
\ncollectively.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/policeman-detained-for-poso-attacks-1447893297",
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