Police probe abuse of cleric

Police probe abuse of cleric

JAKARTA: Police are investigating the possible involvement of
a third party in the physical abuse of terrorist suspect
Syaifudin, who has been hospitalized for his injuries, National
Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday.

"There is a possibility that other individuals or groups beat
up Syaifuddin because we let him go after keeping him in custody
for several days. We have sent a team to Surabaya to investigate
whether he was beaten up inside or outside the police station,"
said Da'i.

Muslim cleric Syaifuddin was arrested in a joint operation
involving the antiterror division and the Surabaya Police. He was
detained for two months on accusations of sheltering fugitive
bomb experts Azahari bin Husin and Noordin Moh, the main suspects
in the attack on JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta last year.

The police said Syaifuddin was also part of the newly
recruited team preparing to conduct suicide bombings across the
country. -- JP