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)