Officer suspected for tampering

YOGYAKARTA: Police Sgt. Edy Wuryanto has been identified as a suspect for tampering with evidence in the case surrounding slain journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin.

Yogyakarta Military Police chief Lt. Col. Unggul K. Yudhayana said yesterday that Edy was under investigation and would be questioned this afternoon.

Edy was the arresting officer of Dwi Sumaji, who was put on trial for Fuad's murder in October.

The Bantul court released Dwi earlier this year after the prosecution acknowledged it had insufficient evidence to carry on with the case.

In his testimony, Dwi Sumaji said his admission of guilt was squeezed from him by the police sergeant when he was taken to Parangtritis Beach, where he was forced to get drunk and sleep with a prostitute.

Dwi said he was further enticed by the promise of a financial reward from Edy if he would falsely admit to the crime.

Unggul said that based on his investigation, there were indications that the case against Dwi had been contrived.

Many believe that the motive behind Fuad's murder was due to his investigative reports on corruption in the Bantul area. There has yet to be any new information made public concerning the murder itself. (23/44)