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)