New suspects named in Udin murder

YOGYAKARTA: Police have identified three new suspects in the murder case of journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, alias Udin, according to local chief detective Lt. Col. Erwin Tobing.

Tobing said here on Wednesday the three were all residents of Bantul regency, where the murder took place in August 1996, and that police were keeping them under close watch.

"We are collecting supporting evidence to (arrest and) take them to court," Tobing said in a discussion on the case held by Bernas daily, where Udin used to work, at Santika Hotel.

Udin was beaten unconscious in his house on Jl. Parangtritis on Aug. 13, 1996 and died three days later in the hospital without regaining consciousness.

Police arrested and took Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik, to court in 1997 for the murder. He was later freed due to a lack of evidence against him.

Siswono said a new investigation team had been formed in December 1997 to handle the case. The team has questioned 54 people, including 15 new witnesses.

"So far, we have only the witnesses' testimony that has led us to the three suspects I mentioned," Erwin said, adding that the testimonies were not enough to arrest the suspects.

Bani said the police had been encountering even greater difficulties in identifying new suspects. "Udin's neighbors refuse to give us any information," he said. (swe/23)