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)