Police refuse to free suspected killer

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Police yesterday refused to release Dwi Sumaji, saying they have not completed questioning the suspected killer of journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin.

Yogyakarta Deputy Police Chief Col. Bani Siswono said in a letter to Dwi's lawyers at the local office of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute, that police could not grant their request. The police also attach the results of medical and psychological examinations testifying that the suspect was fit to be questioned.

The lawyers of Dwi, also known as Iwik, demanded Tuesday that he be released because there were no strong evidence to back the murder allegation. Dwi's family and friends stated that he was home, some 30 kilometer away from Fuad's house, at the time of the murder.

The late Fuad, better known as Udin, was a reporter of the Yogyakarta-based daily Bernas. He was attacked by unidentified people on the night of Aug. 13, and died on Aug. 16 without regaining consciousness. There has been speculation that he was killed in relation with his critical reporting of some local government policies.

In their letter, Dwi's lawyers argued that the evidence seized by the police, a sharpened rusted iron bar, could not have been the weapon used to kill the victim.

"Had it been used to jab the victim's stomach, it would have caused punctures, but the facts are that the victim's abdomen was bruised black and blue," the lawyers said.

The lawyers demanded that Yogyakarta Police Chief Col. Mulyono Sulaiman questioned police officers whom they accused of violating "ethics" when they arrested Dwi.

Dwi was reportedly picked up by four men who took him to meet a person they called "Boss". The boss reportedly promised Dwi wealth if he would admit he had killed Udin.

Dwi was then taken to the police office and detained.

The arrest of the suspect stirred controversy. National Commission on Human Rights member Muladi told The Jakarta Post yesterday that it would be better for the police to declare they could not yet solve the case, rather than prosecute innocent people.

"Admission of a suspect was not enough. There should also be supporting evidence," he said.

A commission team, comprising Lt. Gen. (ret) Soegiri, Muladi and Bambang W. Soeharto, is slated to arrive here from Jakarta today to investigate whether there have been violations on rights in the arrest and detention of Dwi. (30/har/26)