Police jailed for killing suspect

PADANG, West Sumatra: The Padang District Court sentenced five policemen on Monday to 18 months in jail each for beating a drug suspect to death.

The crime occurred last year, when a patrol officer arrested Faisal, 27, in connection with a drug case. A few hours after his arrest, Faisal was rushed to a hospital for severe head injuries.

The policeman denied physically abusing Faisal while in detention, and claimed the suspect had hit his head on the cell wall because of a mental disorder.

However, the court found the officers guilty of police brutality leading to death upon evidence from an internal investigation. -- JP