Police shooting of drug suspect gets support

JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer and a criminologist have backed the actions of Jakarta Police which resulted in the fatal shooting of a foreign drug suspect.

When contacted by The Jakarta Post yesterday, lawyer Amir Syamsuddin and criminologist Adrianus Meliala from University of Indonesia defended the measure, saying that officers had to carefully consider shooting any suspect.

"Shooting alleged criminals is not only done by Indonesian police," Amir said. "Officers in foreign countries also do the same thing if they are exposed to danger."

Adrianus agreed that shooting an alleged criminal, either local or foreign, was not incorrect as long as it was in line with the law.

"Even if the suspect is a foreigner, as long as he or she has exposed the officers' lives to danger, then people will probably understand why police had to shoot them," he said.

The two men were commenting on Friday's shooting of a Nigerian, who was believed to be the recipient of a six-kilogram heroin package smuggled into Indonesia from the golden triangle region.

Hamed Umar Rifai, 29, was shot dead by Jakarta Police detectives. He was shot four times in the head, arm and chest while allegedly trying to fire at officers during a raid on his rented room at Tanah Abang Indah Hotel on Jl. Kebon Kacang in Central Jakarta.

"He is the first foreign suspect gunned down during a raid in this city for many years, at least during the last two years," the head of the Jakarta Police Narcotics Unit, Lt. Col. Abdullah, told the Post yesterday.

Amir Syamsuddin said the stern action taken against the foreigner would not reflect badly on the city's police.

"On the contrary, their action will give them a better image in the eyes of the public," he said. "People will know that the police are seriously tackling crime, particularly foreign drug syndicates."

But Adrianus said the shooting of a suspect does not advantage police.

"It will just create more problems for the police if the suspect they kill is a foreigner."

For example, the suspect's embassy would surely demand a detailed explanation and information about the shooting, he said.

"Not to mention if the embassy does not believe the police explanation. Then the dispute will go higher up the diplomatic chain which will just create more problems for the police."

According to officer Abdullah, the shooting of the Nigerian was merely an act of self-defense.

"The officer had to shoot him because he placed the officers' lives in danger by attempting to fire his gun first," he said.

Hamed was allegedly carrying a Beretta semi-automatic pistol at the time of the raid. The gun was seized as evidence.

Abdullah said he hoped that the shooting would serve as "shock therapy" for the public and encourage them not to get involved in crime.

"People should know that the police are really serious about fighting crime and apprehending alleged criminals, including those involved in drug-related crimes."

Abdullah said the Nigerian Consul General, Timothy Kasuwa, had visited him the day after the fatal shooting seeking information about the incident and the arrests of other Nigerians, who are believed to be members of a drug syndicate.

He said the envoy supported the measures taken by Jakarta Police to eradicate drug abuse and trafficking in the city.

At least seven Nigerians have been detained for their alleged involvement in the smuggling and distributing of about 10.2 kilograms of first-grade heroin this month.

Jakarta Police detectives recently raided some cheap hotels in Tanah Abang and Petamburan and found dozens of Nigerians staying there. Some of them are still being interrogated by police.

Adrianus said such crackdowns were permitted under the criminal investigation procedures but it did not boost the police image.

"Those kind of sporadic raids on venues believed to be the hangouts of suspects will only make the detectives from the narcotics unit look less professional," he said.

Police said they were now paying closer attention to Nigerians living in the city following the extent of their alleged role in drug smuggling.

Adrianus said large numbers of Nigerians were allegedly working in the drug business, with most reportedly acting as couriers, due to their desire for a high-class lifestyle.

The business was very lucrative despite the risks of lengthy jail terms, he said.

For example, Thai national Laor Treekhem, an alleged courier recently apprehended with 1.7 kilos of first-grade heroin, had been promised about US$2,000 to smuggle heroin from Bangkok to Jakarta. (cst)