Officers' detention extended

Officers' detention extended

JAKARTA: Army's Special Force (Kopassus) Commander Maj. Gen.
Amirul Isnaini has approved the 30-day extension of detention of
three officers alleged to have killed Papuan proindependence
leader Theys Hiyo Eluay.

The officers, who comprise a lieutenant colonel, a major and a
captain, have been in the custody of the Military Police since
April 10. They face a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.

Amirul was responding to a request by National Military Police
chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman AB, who said the extension was demanded
for investigation purpose. The extension became valid as of
Monday.

As a result of the extension, the Military Police rejected a
formal request by a team of lawyers for the Kopassus members, who
demanded that their clients have their detention suspended.

"It must be clarified whether the detention of these three
Kopassus officers was ordered by their superior, who is the
Kopassus chief. Under military law, the investigators have no
right to place the suspects in jail," lawyer Ruhut Sitompul said
earlier. -- JP