Man beaten to death over ID

Man beaten to death over ID

SURABAYA (JP): Relatives of Teguh Soenarto, who allegedly died
of injuries caused by police, asked the Jakarta-based National
Commission on Human Rights yesterday to follow-up the
allegations.

Lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi speaking for Teguh's parents said
the Surabaya dockyard worker's family was worried that the
alleged murder, reportedly because Teguh failed to produce his
identity card during a police raid, would be put on the back
burner by the police.

Teguh, 24, alias Atok, died at Dr. Sutomo General Hospital
last Thursday after nine days of treatment following a beating by
officers at Tanjung Perak Naval Police Precinct.

Teguh and three friends were arrested on March 17 in a police
check on identity cards.

"They were taken to a police cell where they were beaten and
kicked by police officers and other detainees," Trimoelja said.

East Java Police spokesman Lt. Col. Safwat Hadi declined to
comment. He said his office needed to coordinate with other
institutions before further investigating the matter.

"We'll punish the police officers if they violated
procedures," he said. (nur)