Detectives detained for allegedly torturing workers

Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya

The efforts of the police force to boost its image hit another snag when four members of East Java Police were detained for allegedly abducting and torturing three workers of housewares manufacturing company PT Maspion.

The four officers, Second Insp. Visto Arif Pramana, First Brig. Sunari, Brig. Untoro and Brig. Ali, are being detained at by the provincial police for investigation. All of them are detectives who were assigned to investigate theft at the company.

"We arrested them and are trying to find out their motives," East Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Heru Susanto said here on Sunday.

Investigators have questioned the officers one by one, but intend to quiz them altogether to cross-check.

The three workers were identified as Sriyono, Rudi Yulianto and Ikwantoro.

They were reportedly kidnapped on June 4, while on their way home from the factory. An Isuzu Panther van stopped and four men, who turned out to be the detectives, forced them into the van. The three were allegedly beaten inside the van after they refused to confess they had stolen merchandise from the company.

The three workers have maintained their innocence.

They were dropped off near the factory near the Surabaya Grand Mosque.

The three workers quickly reported the incident to the police.

Heru asserted that the police officers had stepped beyond their authority and did not act on behalf of the police force.

He said he could not identify the violation committed by the detectives as the investigation was still under way.

The four policemen could be brought to justice on charges of either indiscipline or committing a crime.

Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Sad Harunantyo, meanwhile, asked the press not to blow the incident out of proportion and compare it to the case of Marsinah, a female labor leader who was murdered after leading a protest in 1992.

Earlier on Friday, chairman of the Monitoring Team for Victims of Abduction (TPKP) Ismail Syarif demanded a hearing with the police chief in connection with the case, but to no avail.

"We will report this case to Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea," Ismail said, adding that he regretted that the police chief failed to meet him to explain the incident.

He said he was afraid the case would draw the attention of the international community.