Child dies in prison

Child dies in prison

MEDAN, North Sumatra: An independent factfinding team suspects
torture as the cause of last month's death of a 16-year-old
prisoner in Tanjung Gusta juvenile prison.

The team, formed by the Indonesian Children Institute and
Urban Social Workers Group announced Thursday that Paris
Pangaribuan may have been tortured in police custody.

Spokesman for the team Ahmad Sofyan was quoted by Antara as
saying that Pangaribuan was already ill when he was sent to the
prison in April and died in Pirngadi Hospital.

Pangaribuan was sentenced by Medan District Court to seven
months in jail for stealing a guitar.

"Soon after he came to his cell, he became paralyzed," Ahmad
said, quoting Pangaribuan's cell mate, Aho. "It is very likely
that he was mistreated in Patumbak police station. We are
collecting more evidence," he added. (pan)