Lawyers to report police to human rights commission

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Lawyers of defendant Gunawan Santosa intend to report the Jakarta Police on Wednesday to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for the unjust treatment of their client.

Gunawan -- a murder defendant -- is shackled by the hands and feet to the bedposts while receiving medical treatment at Soekanto Police Hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta. He is being treated for a shooting wound in his midriff sustained in a fight with a guard from the North Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, according to the police.

"We have enough evidence to file a lawsuit against the poor treatment but we will report the human rights violation to Komnas HAM first," lawyer Alamsyah Hanafiah said on Tuesday.

Alamsyah has been trying to speak in person to Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara since Monday to request that the police unshackle Gunawan.

"The chief, through his adjutant, said that Gunawan's condition (of being shackled) was only a technical problem and I should speak to his subordinates," he said.

"My client is not supposed to be investigated but to receive medical treatment for his wounds. Why should he be chained to the bed?"

The lawyers complained that not once during their visits to the hospital since March 31 had they seen their client receive medical treatment.

"On our last visit, Gunawan managed to talk quite clearly. He denied that he possessed handcuffs and a Beretta pistol as claimed by the police," Alamsyah said. "He also said 'how could I escape as I was in detention?'"

Jakarta Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang said the lawyers should consult Central Jakarta Police detectives concerning the shackles, since they were guarding the defendant.

Salempang only said that Gunawan would be questioned at the city police headquarters as soon as his condition improved.

"But our officers at the hospital reported that every time the officers ask Gunawan questions, he faints. Oddly, he can speak long sentences to his lawyers," he said.

Gunawan has been charged with the premeditated murder of his ex-wife's father, president director of PT Aneka Sarana Bakti (Asaba) and his off-duty Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) bodyguard.