JP/4/jaksa
Sketches of prosecutor's murder suspects released
Ruslan Sangadji Palu
Central Sulawesi Police disseminated on Saturday the sketches of two suspects in the murder of prosecutor Ferry Silalahi, who helped try terrorism cases in the provincial capital of Palu.
The police also deployed intelligence officers and detectives to hunt down the suspects still at large in the province.
"We will comb all corners of Palu city and other likely places in order to capture them," Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha told journalists.
Based on the sketches distributed through police stations across Central Sulawesi, one suspect had long, straight hair, and another curly hair.
Taufik said the sketches were drawn up and disseminated after questioning a number of eyewitnesses.
He called on local residents who recognized the men to immediately report to the authorities.
"I ask people not to conceal the whereabouts of the two men because we have actually found their hideouts," Taufik added.
He said that the police had even identified the suspects but refused to reveal their names publicly in the hope that they would not flee Central Sulawesi.
Ferry's wife, Yulia, said on Thursday the attack was carried out by four gunmen on two motorcycles, adding that the suspects had dark skin and long hair.
Ferry was shot dead on Wednesday night in his car outside the residence of lawyer Thomas D. Ihalaw on Jl. Swadaya in Tana Modindi neighborhood, South Palu. The prosecutor and his wife were just leaving the house after attending evening mass.
He had been working in Palu for over a year, and like other prosecutors he dealt with dozens of cases, including those on corruption and terrorism.
The most recent cases he had prosecuted were those on Bali bombing suspects Firmansyah, Fajri and Aang Hasanuddin.
Firmansyah and Fajri were sentenced to five years for aiding and abetting another Bali bombing suspect, Achmad Roichan, while Aang was jailed for three years for not informing police of the activities of the other two.
However, an appeals court ordered on May 11 the release of the convicts from detention, but Ferry and prosecutor Syahrul Alam rejected it, pending a Supreme Court ruling.
Palu is some 200 kilometers from the Central Sulawesi regency of Poso that has experienced a string of attacks by unidentified gunmen after a 2001 peace deal to end two years of sectarian fighting.
The murder of Ferry, the latest mystery shooting in Central Sulawesi, prompted the National Police to provide individual bodyguards for prosecutors and judges assigned in Palu.
Police protection has been given to four other prosecutors and judges handling terrorism cases in the city.
Prosecutors and judges in other conflict areas, Aceh, Papua and Maluku provinces -- particularly those dealing with cases that could endanger their lives, would also be provided security from the police, National Police chief Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday.