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)