Policeman detained for Poso attacks
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
A policeman has been detained for his alleged role in spreading terror in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, which recently saw renewed attacks on the Christian community.
Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Aryanto Sutadi confirmed on Monday the detention of Second Brig. Efendi at the provincial headquarters following the recent violence.
Efendi is the first security officer to be arrested in connection with the renewed violence in the regency, where sectarian clashes killed some 2,000 people from 2000 to 2002.
The policeman is accused specifically of involvement in last month's murder of Pinedapa village head Carminalis Ndele, apparently with a motive to reignite fighting between the Muslim and Christian communities.
The severed head of Carminalis, 48, a Christian, was found on Nov. 1 in the predominantly Muslim subdistrict of Sayo in Poso Kota district.
The head was sealed in a plastic bag with a sheet of paper inscribed with the words: "The Order from the Old People is to take 1,000 heads".
Aryanto said Efendi had close ties to Andi Makkassau, an activist who had been arrested on charges of stealing refugee aid money and murdering Carminalis, who refused to go along with Andi's criminal schemes.
"Second Brig. Efendi has been engaged in several cases of violence in Poso, including the murder of Carminalis Ndele. He was one of the suspects who picked up the victim," Aryanto said.
Andi had confessed to investigators that Efendi not only played a role in murdering the village head, but also loaned Andi his gun for Rp 500,000 (US$55) to attack a church in Poso.
According to Central Sulawesi Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Arief Rahim, Andi said he had "used the gun to launch an attack on Bethani Church in early November".
Andi also admitted that he killed Carminalis in an attempt to cover up his involvement in the Rp 1 billion embezzlement case in government aid allocated for 400 refugee families in Poso.
Police said Andi had not disbursed the correct amount to Carminalis and other village chiefs entrusted to hand out the aid to refugees victimized by sectarian violence.
Witnesses told police that Carminalis had refused to accept the funds from Andi and Efendi when he realized that the amount was incorrect. Each refugee family was allocated Rp 2.5 million,
Worried that Carminalis would later report the matter to police, Andi allegedly hired men to kill Carminalis.
Apart from Andi, the police had also detained an accomplice, Ahmad Laparigi, as another suspect in the embezzlement and murder cases.
Aryanto said the police were verifying Andi's confession that the charged policeman loaned him his firearm.
"We are still investigating him (Efendi). The probe has not yet touched upon the allegations of gun rental; but the suspect has admitted to picking up the victim (Carminalis) to be murdered," he added.
Aryanto further said his office would also summon Central Sulawesi Social Welfare Office head Azikin Suyuti and Poso Police chief Adj Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma Sitepu for questioning in the graft case over the misuse of the refugee aid.
The summonses for the two officials were sent out following the suspects' confession that Azikin and other senior officials had also pocketed the embezzled money, Aryanto said.
Azikin has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was ready to face a police probe.
According to Aryanto, by August this year alone, Rp 1,192 billion should have been disbursed to the 400 refugee families, but added that they only received around Rp 500 million collectively.