Police launch re-enactment of violent deathg at STPDN

Riva Fadillah and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Kuningan

Police in Sumedang, West Java, reconstructed on Sunday the violent acts that led to the death of Public Administration Institute (STPDN) student Wahyu Hidayat. Suspect, Yayan Sofyan, delivered the final punch that led to Wahyu's tragic death in the reconstruction.

Local Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Yoyok Subagyono -- after witnessing the reconstruction -- concluded that Wahyu, a second- year student from Bogor, West Java, had collapsed after being punched and had hit his head on a wash basin.

"The findings (from the reconstruction) will be matched with the results of a forensic examination," Yoyok said.

Investigators suspected that Wahyu's death was caused by punches to his body.

The 41st scene of the reconstruction staged Yayan Sofyan punching Wahyu. The 46th scene staged Wahyu being treated by medics. The 47th scene staged Wahyu being transported, unconscious, to the Al-Islam Hospital.

"The first and second scenes staged the opening of the program at the Daatul Maarif Mosque and the Bangka-Belitung Hall," Yoyok said.

The third until the 45th scenes staged violent acts by senior students against younger students of STPDN.

Yoyok emphasized that those responsible for the acts that resulted in the death of Wahyu had not intended to kill him.

The reconstruction proceeded peacefully with 19 suspects and witnesses present. I Nyoman Sumaryadi, coordinator in charge of day-to-day activities at the institute watched the reconstruction.

During the reconstruction, one suspect Sandra Rahman refused to participate in the 20th and the 22nd scenes. The scenes were supposed to show how he punched students, Widya and Adli. Sandra said he never punched the students.

The police chief said police had scripted the scenes based on the testimonies of witnesses. "Witness have said that he (Sandra Rahman) punched Adli, Widya, and others," Yoyok said.

The police, he said, would complete the dossiers and later submit them to the prosecutor's office.

Separately, the regental and municipal administrations of Cirebon will review the assignment of STPDN graduates in their areas.

Cirebon deputy regent Dedi Supardi said that the policy has been taken in response to public criticism over the quality and performance of STPDN graduates, especially after Wahyu's controversial death.

"This is to ease the public's concern and is evidence that we do not tolerate violence in the bureaucracy," Dedi said.

Similar decisions were also made by the administrations of Indramayu, Kuningan, and Cirebon municipalities.

Speaker of the Cirebon Legislative Council Suryana supported the idea to review the placement of STPDN graduates.

About 200 STPDN graduates working in public administration in Cirebon have deplored the unnecessary death of Wahyu.