Handling of unsolved crime cases disputed

Handling of unsolved crime cases disputed

JAKARTA (JP): Police and members of the House of
Representatives are at odds over how to deal with the mounting
number of unsolved crime cases in the city.

In a hearing with high-ranking police officers on Wednesday,
members of Commission III for legal affairs urged the National
Police Chief, Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro, to close the cases
which are unlikely to be solved.

"Giving the cases indefinite status will only give the public
a bad image of the names listed in the cases," said House member
Handoyo Putro from the Indonesian Democratic Party.

"We suggest that the police close the prolonged unsolved cases
for the sake of the law and the future of the people allegedly
involved in the cases," said Handoyo, who was fully supported by
other House members.

"If the police have lost hope in solving the cases, why don't
they be fair and stop their investigations," said another member.

According to the legislators, the most important crime cases
involve the alleged role of actress Ria Irawan in the mysterious
death of a young businessman two years ago and the triple killing
in Los Angeles, USA, allegedly committed by Harnoko Dewantono,
alias Oki. The brutal killing of Marsinah, a labor activist in
East Java, was also mentioned as a high-priority case.

Homework

Banurusman was less enthusiastic and insisted that not all of
the cases be closed.

"They're our homework, which is why some of the cases
mentioned are still going on," said the four-star general.

"There are written rules we have to obey if we want to close a
case," said Banurusman.

Detectives and forensic experts are still trying to determine
the cause behind the death of businessman Rivaldi Soekarnoputra
at Ria Irawan's home in South Jakarta.

"It will take time to reach a conclusion," Banurusman said.

In the Los Angeles triple murder, the city police have had to
carry the dossiers back and forth to the Jakarta Prosecutors
Office, Banurusman said, adding that police and prosecutors are
still in disagreement about the case.

In the case of Oki, the suspect is currently in jail for
passport forgery.

The Marsinah case is still waiting for the results of a series
of DNA tests, Banurusman said.

"We have hired two experts from England to help us solve the
puzzle," he said. (bsr)