24 questioned over burnt dump trucks

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Twenty-four people are now in police custody in connection with the burning of two garbage trucks at the Bantar Gebang dump site in Bekasi on Monday, authorities said.

They were transferred on Wednesday from the Bekasi police district to the city police detention center for further questioning, according to a police official.

"They are transferred here for security, to avoid possible raids from those who want their release," said city police deputy spokesman Comr. Alex Mandalika.

The men have not yet been charged, however, and but being questioned as both witnesses and potential suspects, he added.

The group was detained for their potential involvement in an incident in which two garbage trucks were set ablaze and 21 others belonging to the City Sanitary Agency were damaged.

The trucks were attacked by locals as they were trying to dump the garbage in Bantar Gebang site despite the administration's decision to close the dump.

The detainees would undergo examination as witnesses to probe whether they involved in the Monday's clash or not, Alex said.

"Once they are proven true, they will be becoming suspects. If not, we will send them home," Alex said.

They might be charged with the Criminal Code article 170 for demolishing one's goods, Alex said. The article carries a maximum penalty of five years and six months.

The detention of a witness is against the law.

Police sources said 25 people were arrested during Monday's backlash. Most of them were residents of the Community Unit No. 02, Sumur Batu, Bantar Gebang, Bekasi.

Two of them, Maman and Hardoyo, were arrested for allegedly provoking the incident. Hardoyo was still detained at Bekasi Police detention center, while Maman was taken along with 23 others to the city police.