Angry residents threaten to burn police post

Angry residents threaten to burn police post

JAKARTA (JP): Angry residents of Kampung Bali threatened to
burn a local police station on Tuesday after the release of two
alleged drug traffickers, Rizky and Yedi, that they had caught
and turned over to police.

In a bid to combat the rising drug trade, Jakarta Police chief
Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman encouraged civilians earlier this
month to help police in their crime-fighting efforts. Civilians
were permitted to arrest people they suspected to be drug
traffickers and users.

Tanah Abang Police, who oversee Kampung Bali, freed Rizky on
Monday evening and forced Siswanto, the subdistrict head of
Kampung Bali, to accept the release, saying police found no
evidence with which to charge Rizky.

"We are very disappointed with the police action and we doubt
their seriousness in combating the drug problem," a resident told
journalists on Tuesday, noting that Yedi had also been released
earlier without their consent.

Rizky was arrested last Saturday in the neighborhood by
Siswanto, following information from a drug user who said she had
bought drugs from Rizky.

Siswanto has launched six raids at houses in his neighborhood
believed to be used by drug traffickers and users. He arrested
some of them in line with the appeal made by Noegroho.

Two of the drug users caught during a raid reportedly
confessed that they bought shabu-shabu, locally made crystal
methamphetamine, from Rizky. One of the users who made the
confession, Nugroho Bayu, is a student of the University of
Indonesia.

Tanah Abang Police chief Capt. Suwito said police could not
detain Rizky longer than two days because of a lack of material
evidence. "Detaining a person without clear reason is against the
law," he said.

But a public prosecutor, in defense of the Kampung Bali
residents, told The Jakarta Post that the police should not have
released the suspect as two witnesses had implicated him as a
culprit.

"Releasing the suspect may hamper the investigation into the
drug case," Tonny Sinai explained.

Tonny said Tanah Abang Police should have dug out more
information from Rizky about his networking. "The release is also
contrary to the National Police campaign against drug
trafficking," he added.

However, Central Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Timur Pradopo
said that if new evidence in the case came to light the police
could re-arrest the suspect. "I will ask the police subprecinct
chief to detain the suspect again as soon as I am informed about
new evidence," he said. (04/asa)