Four policemen imprisoned for torturing civilians

JAKARTA (JP): A military tribunal in Bandung sentenced four Tasikmalaya police officers to between 22 and 28 months yesterday for torturing civilians. Their action triggered a major riot in the town last year.

Chief Corporal Nursamsi Hendri was given 28 months, Second Sergeant Agus Martadinata 27 months, Second Sergeant Agus Yulianto 23 months and Second Sergeant Dedi Haeruddin 22 months.

They are all to appeal. "The sentences are too heavy, your honor. We all will appeal," said the 38-year-old Nursamsi who represented the other defendants.

Their intention to appeal was backed by their defense lawyers, Lt. Col. Nani Supriyatni and First Lt. Inne Suryani from the West Java police command, Antara reported.

Martadinata, Yulianto, Haerudin, all aged 24, and Nursamsi were found guilty of beating up Islamic teacher Mahmud Farid, 37, and his students Habib Hamdani, 22, and Ikhsan, 20.

The two judges said in their verdict that the torture took place on Dec. 23 while the plaintiffs were being questioned on suspicion of mistreating Nursamsi's son, Muhammad Riza, who was a student at their boarding school, Riyadul Ulun Wadda'wah.

The teacher and students were charged with beating and soaking Riza in a pool for stealing fellow students' money. Angered by the reports of the treatment his son had received from the teacher and his assistants, Nursamsi summoned the three.

Nursamsi assaulted the plaintiffs as soon as they arrived at the police office.

He punched Mahmud Farid after the respected teacher slapped him on the face after seeing his assistants being beaten up, the verdict said.

The other policemen became involved in the attack on seeing that Nursamsi was in trouble.

The teacher and his two assistants sustained injuries from the policemen's torture, the verdict said.

News of the torture triggered a riot in Tasikmalaya on Dec. 26 although the conflicting parties had made peace and closed the case. Angry Moslems went on a rampage on hearing rumors that a teacher had been killed.

The thousands of rioters torched police posts, churches, a Buddhist temple, vehicles, shops and factories belonging to Chinese entrepreneurs.

Four people were killed in the day-long unrest, according to official statistics. The riot caused estimated losses of Rp 85 billion (US$36 million).

Earlier in the trial Second Sgt. Agus Martadinata had said that more police officers were involved in the torture and he questioned why only four were being tried.

Prosecutor Col. Ismail Bangun also that mentioned a number of other police officers had been involved in the incident but there has been no official announcement as to whether they will be taken to court.

The four convicts were dismissed from military service on Jan. 10. Their uniforms were removed in a ceremony led by West Java police chief Maj. Gen. Nana Permana. (pan)