Eight officers finally released

JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro finally released on Thursday afternoon the eight middle-ranking officers who had allegedly breached police discipline, a lawyer representing the officers said.

"The eight have now been called to National Police headquarters by Bimantoro. I hope they will reconcile their differences and settle the matter internally," Suci Madio, the lawyer, told The Jakarta Post.

"And I heard after the meeting that they won't be going back to detention but straight to their houses," Suci said.

Despite the release, the lawsuits against Bimantoro would continue and would not be immediately dropped should a reconciliation be arrived at. A pre-trial process is currently ongoing.

The eight officers were arrested on Bimantoro's orders while holding a meeting at a cafe in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on July 22, and have been detained at the National Police's Mobile Brigade headquarters in Kelapa Dua, East Jakarta, ever since. (emf/04)