Murder suspect tells court of police brutality

Murder suspect tells court of police brutality

JAKARTA (JP): The suspect in a murder told a court here yesterday that he was beaten in police detention.

"I was beaten black and blue before I was investigated," Philipus, 47, told the East Jakarta court.

Philippus, who worked as a security guard in a private company is the prime suspect in the coldblooded murder of Elly Kusneli and her three children Citra, Gilang, and Rizky on Oct. 2, 1995. The murdered woman was the wife of Rohadi, who lived in the East Jakarta sub-district of Bambu Apus near the suspect's house.

Philipus pointed at policeman Iman Safei, present as a witness, and said he was among the men who beat him up.

Various new witnesses testified at yesterday's hearings. Mohammad Taslim, a policeman at the scene of the crime, testified that he saw patches of blood in various parts of Philipus' house.

At the same time, a separate hearing was being held for another suspect, Philipus' wife Suparmi, as well as another closed hearing for his relatives Albertus, Lambertus and Clemence, who are also suspects in the murder. All three are minors.

Five witnesses gave evidence at Suparmi's court hearing.

Witnesses Iman Safei, Mohammad Taslim and Namin told the court that police tracking dogs immediately headed in the direction of Philipus' house when released at the murder site.

"The tracking dogs stopped about 10 meters from Philipus house because two dogs were blocking the way," Namin said.

The witnesses agreed that the dog handler had stopped the investigation at that spot.

Philipus' and Rohadi's houses are approximately 200 meters apart.

Judge Todjib Madretis, however, demanded to know whether the dogs stopped at the suspects house, or a distance away from his house, reminding him that it could be a mere coincidence. The suspect's house is just one in the row of other houses, he pointed out.

The hearings have been adjourned until next Monday. (14)