Military slams Palu Police for making another wrong arrest

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu, Central Sulawesi

A senior military officer here criticized the police on Wednesday for what he called an unprofessional investigation into the murder of prosecutor Ferry Silalahi.

"I am very disappointed because the police have shown incompetence by simply arresting anybody," said Maj. Richard Tulong, the deputy commander of the Raksatama infantry battalion in Palu.

Richard was commenting on the detention of a member of his battalion in connection with the murder. The soldier, who has only been identified as R, was held overnight on Monday for questioning and released on Tuesday morning.

He was the second person detained in the case. Police are still holding Emil, a resident of Donggulu, who was arrested on June 1.

The soldier fell under police suspicion in the May 26 shooting death of Ferry on Jl. Modindi in South Palu because he was riding a Suzuki Satria motorcycle and carrying a firearm when stopped by officers. Ferry's four attackers were riding two motorcycles.

R has said that he was on leave visiting relatives in Parigi when he was arrested.

Richard said the police should have coordinated with the military the moment the soldier showed them his ID and leave papers.

"As it is, this whole thing has been irregular," he said.

He said only the Military Police were authorized to arrest and question military personnel. However, he said he would not have objected if the soldier was really involved in the murder.

"If he were definitely in the wrong, the police would have been welcome to question him. And we would have dismissed him if necessary," he said.

When asked about the arrest, Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Sugianto said he knew nothing about it. "Sorry, I do not know if a TNI member was arrested."

Meanwhile, R discussed his detention with reporters in Palu on Tuesday night hours after his release.

"I was stopped by police on Monday while visiting relatives in Parigi. That same night I was taken to the Palu Police Headquarters and questioned by the investigation team," he said.

He said he had shown the police his military ID and his leave papers. He also explained his possession of the motorcycle and firearm, but said the police continued to question him and held him overnight at the police headquarters.

Meanwhile, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha denied that Emil had been wrongfully arrested.

He said in Palu that Emil was a suspect in Ferry's murder, although not the prime suspect.

"We suspect that Emil was involved in the case, although indirectly, and we have sufficient evidence to prove it," he said as quoted by news portal detik.com.

He said police personnel would continue to question Emil, who is being detained at the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters.

Emil has denied any involvement in the murder of Ferry, insisting he has an alibi.

He said that he, his wife Hamna and some friends were watching TV at a neighbor's house at the time of the murder, adding that he only heard about the murder on television.