Police release Fuad Syafrudin's suspected killer

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Police released yesterday Dwi Sumaji alias Iwik, the suspected killer of journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, to the surprise of his lawyers whose previous requests for the move had repeatedly been rejected.

But he retains his status as the suspect in the highly publicized case.

Dwi, whose arrest on Oct. 21 sparked criticism because police allegedly violated procedures, left Yogyakarta police detention center yesterday afternoon and was greeted by lawyers Triyandi Mulkan, Djufri Taufik and Eko Widianto of the Yogyakarta Legal Aid office. He was later reunited with his wife Sunarti and his son.

"I thank Allah. I thank National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo and my lawyers for this," he said. His extended detention term will expire tomorrow.

Dwi will still have to report to the police every Monday and Thursday.

Also yesterday, the Provincial Prosecutor's Office turned down for the second time police dossiers on Dwi because it was still incomplete.

Spokesman Soeparman said police need to add further data on witnesses, the suspect's testimony and evidence. He said police had 14 days to complete the document.

Soeparman declined to say whether the dossiers were rejected because the police reconstruction of the murder failed to include the main witness, Marsiyem, who is the journalist's widow, and so was rendered legally defective.

The lawyers yesterday met with Yogyakarta Police Chief Col. Mulyono Sulaiman to again ask, for the fifth time, that Dwi be released because since Nov. 10, the beginning of second period of his detention, police had not question him about the murder.

"Before long, the police chief said he would grant our request. This was very surprising," Triyandi Mulkan said. "This probably indicated that the police are changing their approach in handling the case."

He also said the release and the prosecutors' decision to return the dossiers on Dwi strengthened his belief that Dwi, a driver at a local advertising firm, was innocent.

The lawyer said his office would still fight to have the investigation on his client stopped altogether, and promised to help the police find the real killer.

The murder of Fuad, better known as Udin, in August drew wide press coverage because of alleged links to powerful local figures and because the journalist was known for his critical reporting of many local administration's policies.

The arrest of Dwi, however, drew even more controversy because of some perceived oddities in the police procedures. Police, for instance, took him first to a hotel and made him drink alcohol until he passed out.

Police also reportedly offered the suspect wealth and a better job if he admitted to killing the journalist.

The National Commission on Human Rights had earlier said the arrest violated the suspect's rights. (23/swe)