Journalist slain by police after his arrest

JAKARTA (JP): PILAR biweekly magazine photographer Rudi P. Singgih was in the midst of covering some long-term investigation when he was shot dead by Bandung Police for allegedly being a car thief.

The magazine's managing editor Yusuf Yazid told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Thursday that "Rudi was on leave to conduct an investigation covering a confidential case."

Yusuf, however, declined to reveal the story Rudi was working on.

"He had been on leave since November last year," Yusuf said.

Rudi, 38, a father of two and one of the founders of PILAR magazine who once worked for Tempo weekly from 1987 to 1994 as photo editor, was shot dead on April 23 after he was arrested at his home in South Bandung, West Java.

Police claim that Rudi was on the police's wanted list, and had to be shot as the latter had put the lives of officers in danger after he stabbed one of four policemen on the way to the police station.

Rudi's wife, Kenny Kaniawati, 29, came to the National Commission of Human Rights on Thursday to raise the issue of her husband's slaying.

She was met by commission members Koespamono Irsan and Samsuddin.

Accompanying Kenny were Rudi's brother Coki, and Rommy Leo from the Extra Judicial Killing Advocation Alliance.

Kenny said police had shot Rudi in his right foot just a minute after they had arrested him.

"Why should the police kill my husband after he had already surrendered?," Kenny asked.

Kenny further said that police also confiscated Rudi's car from the garage along with some of Rudi's professional equipment including a handycam, film rolls, and a laptop computer.

"I reported the killing to the police and Bandung Military Police a couple days after the incident. But thus far, there has been no significant progress.

"Police even accused my husband of being involved in the theft of luxury cars," Kenny said.

Yusuf said PILAR would fully support any legal action taken by Kenny to uncover the shooting. He also said the magazine plans to file a complaint against the police.(02)