Noegroho regrets use of force against lawyer
Noegroho regrets use of force against lawyer
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho
Djajoesman said on Wednesday that he disagreed with and regretted
the approach taken by his officers when arresting lawyer Petrus
Bala Pattyona the day before.
"I do not support the way my boys arrested the lawyer. It was
incorrect and very arrogant of them. I've strictly reprimanded
them on the matter," Noegroho told reporters after addressing a
meeting with nightspot owners at the Jakarta Police Headquarters.
Petrus, currently representing notorious drug suspect Zarina
Mirafsur, was apprehended for submitting an alleged fake document
during his client's trial.
Before scores of journalists and onlookers, plainclothes
officers forced Petrus into a Kijang van in front of the South
Jakarta District Court.
Zarina's other lawyers Ali Mazi, Roy Rening and Kores Tambunan
were also detained later that day.
"They were all released at about 2 a.m., when police found "no
sufficient evidence against them," Petrus said on Wednesday
afternoon.
"They could not get anything against me or my colleagues. Yeye
has admitted that the drugs were his and only his," Petrus said.
Petrus said he planned to report "the unlawful arrest" to the
House of Representatives in the near future.
"I also urge National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi to
investigate the matter. And strict action must be taken against
the Jakarta Police chief and his detectives," he said.
The officers' approach when arresting Petrus was strongly
condemned by lawyers across the capital.
Sudjono, chairman of the Indonesian Bar Association (Ikadin),
said it was unlawful and should not happen anymore.
"Lawyers are partners, not enemies of the police," he said in
a televised interview with ANteve on Wednesday.
Trimedya Pandjaitan of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human
Rights Protection Association (PBHI) said he considered the way
the police arrested Petrus a "kidnapping".
"The police are trying to create an atmosphere where anything
can happen to anybody who are against the police," he said.
"It's also possible that the police will repeat the same
methods on other lawyers in the future."
Noted lawyer Amir Syamsuddin said the Jakarta Police showed
too much anxiety in the matter.
He said the police should not have carried a lawyer out of the
courtroom, since the action offended lawyers on duty.
"If the police found indications that the confession was
fabricated, why didn't they just invite the lawyers nicely for
questioning?" Amir told The Jakarta Post. (ylt/01)