Detained suspects must be released: Lawyers

Detained suspects must be released: Lawyers

JAKARTA (JP): City police are under pressure to release three
people detained for alleged involvement in a foiled robbery
attempt and bomb blast in West Jakarta.

Their lawyer claims that the police lacked preliminary
evidence and that his clients were improperly arrested.

Nanang Subana Dirja, a member of a team of lawyers from the
Ampera Legal Aid Institute, said on Saturday that the demand was
made following the release on bail of a detainee named Ichwan on
Friday.

The four are part of a group of 21 people arrested by police
for alleged involvement in the April 15 crimes. The police
believe the detainees are members of Angkatan Mujahidin Islam
Nusantara (AMIN) group, which reportedly has its headquarters in
Caringin Maseng village in Bogor, where they reportedly practiced
"different" Islamic teachings in their daily lives.

The requests for the release of the four suspects were filed
on Thursday on behalf of the suspects' families, Nanang said.

"We hope the release of the other three will be granted soon."

The other three suspects are Edi Rohadi, Muhammad Jahid and
Naiman -- all residents of Caringin Maseng in Bogor.

Nanang said his clients had adequate alibis to prove their
innocence.

"They were in Jakarta at the time of the incident but in
different locations," he told The Jakarta Post.

Ichwan, who is also a resident of Caringin Maseng, was in
Cengkareng fixing a customer's broken air conditioner, Edi and
Jahid were at their respective parents' houses on Jl. Keamanan
Dalam and on Jl. Kesederhanaan in West Jakarta, while Naiman was
working at state senior high school SMUN 15 on Jl. RE
Marthadinata in North Jakarta, Nanang said.

The four were picked up by police at their respective houses
in Caringin Maseng without any warrants.

Meanwhile, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said
the police granted Ichwan release on bail because his wife gave
guarantees.

Allowing Ichwan to go home was not meant to release him from
the allegations, he said.

"As long as there is a guarantee from the suspect's family or
his lawyers, police have no right to keep him in detention. But
we'll continue processing the allegations," Lubis said.

Nanang, however, said the police should be bold enough to
admit that they had arrested the wrong people and not disguise
Ichwan's release as a mere temporary release on bail.

"If my clients are not guilty, why don't they (police) just
admit their mistakes," Nanang said.

A detained suspect can be released on bail as long as his or
her family or lawyers can assure police that the suspect will not
destroy evidence or try to run away.

It has been reported that the AMIN group often received
military-style exercises at nearby Roke hill.

However, Nanang said local residents testified that the place
was often used by students of military and police schools for
various exercises, including shooting and war games.

"The hill, which has hidden places, trees, a river and a
unoccupied valley, was suitable for them to pitch makeshift
tents," Nanang said. (emf)