Journalist murder investigation resumes

Journalist murder investigation resumes

JAKARTA (JP): Yogyakarta Police Chief Col. Bani Siswono
revealed that Sgt. Maj. Edy Wuryanto, the detective in charge of
the controversial investigation into the murder of journalist
Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, has been relieved of his post in the
Bantul regency and reassigned to police headquarters.

But Bani refused to link Edy's posting to the murder case,
saying only that police headquarters in Yogyakarta needed the
additional manpower.

"He was moved to Yogyakarta headquarters because he is needed
there," Bani said as quoted by Antara Saturday. He did not say
when the transfer took place.

Edy was chief detective in the investigation of the Aug. 13
murder of Bernas journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, better
known as Udin.

According to the investigation, Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik, had
allegedly murdered Udin out of jealously because he suspected the
deceased was having an affair with his wife.

But many questioned the results of the police findings and
suspected Iwik's death was related to his investigative reports
on corruption in Bantul.

The prosecution initially rejected the police dossiers.

During the trial, Iwik claimed that Edy had extorted a false
testimony from him by getting him intoxicated and pairing him up
with a prostitute.

The prosecution eventually dropped the case and Iwik was
acquitted by the Bantul District Court on Nov. 27.

Edy has also been found guilty of destroying evidence by
floating a portion of Udin's blood out to sea and discarding the
rest in the garbage.

Donations

Bani said the investigation into the murder had resumed and
detectives have been on the case for the past week under the
command of Lt. Col. Erwin Tobing, chief of the detective
directorate of Yogyakarta police.

"We are out to capture the criminal and find out the motives
behind the murder," he said after an informal meeting with local
leaders.

Bani urged people who might have useful information on the
case to report to the police by mail to PO Box 7777 Yogyakarta or
by telephoning 884-444.

Bani also welcomed assistance offered by the Military Police
Chief Maj. Gen. Syamsu. Last Thursday, Syamsu ordered the chief
of Yogyakarta's military corps Lt. Col. I Ngurah Wangsawan to
help the police find the killer.

Tobing said the police would consider using reports from a
fact finding team set up by the Indonesian Journalists'
Association.

Meanwhile, a group of Yogyakarta journalists handed over a Rp
561,250 (US$140) donation to Iwik Saturday.

A representative of the journalists, M. Sianturi, said he and
his colleagues collected the money after Iwik's acquittal.

"We learned that Iwik was facing financial problems after
having to stand trial for the past 13 months," Sianturi said.
(amd)