Officer Sofyan's death

Officer Sofyan's death

In the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sofyan, a 21-year-old
police sergeant, met with an unusual death. While he was driving
in the Pondok Kopi area, East Jakarta, he was approached by two
plain clothes policemen. An argument ensued, then a shot was
heard and Sofyan fell to the ground, dead.

Later in the day, Jakarta's police chief issued a statement to
the press, saying that Sofyan was a phony policeman who was
suspected of frequently extorting people in the area. He was shot
while resisting arrest, the police chief said.

At this point, however, a controversy arose. His family felt
there was something odd in the situation. Sofyan was alleged to
be a phony police officer and a suspected extortionist. An
autopsy on his body was not allowed and the family was barred
from making statements to the press.

Sofyan's family demanded a formal clarification from the
police. Fortunately, the police admitted that Sofyan had indeed
been a police officer and not a phony one. Whether he had been
guilty of extortion, only further investigations will prove.

This case reminds us of a warning given by the chief of police
some time ago, that police would shoot any criminal resisting
arrest. Sofyan San's case may or may not have anything to do with
the warning. Nevertheless, there is a rising fear that our police
officers will become "Dirty Harrys" -- after the film hero who
hates criminals so much that he will not hesitate to execute any
suspected crook.

We accept that firm measures must be taken against criminals.
There is, however, one condition that must be fulfilled: There
must be legitimate proof that such measures are warranted.
Sofyan's case, however, also demonstrates that only a very thin
line separates what is allowed from what is not.

-- Republika, Jakarta