Policeman named suspect in torture case

The Yogyakarta Provincial Police named on Wednesday Heri Subagyo, a police officer, as a suspect for inflicting torture against Aan Yulianto, who died in the hospital after being questioned by police over his suspected involvement in a brawl between policemen and a group of youth in the city.

"The suspect admits that he hit Aan's head. He is now under arrest," chief of police internal affairs section Adj. Sr. Comr. Pudjijono E.S. told reporters on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Aan Yulianto is one of five witnesses who were taken to provincial police headquarters for questioning over a brawl on Jl. Magelang last week in which a member of police mobile brigade Totok Sugiyarto was wounded after being stabbed by an unknown assailant.

Aan died at Sardjito Hospital after undergoing surgery. Doctors said that some of Aan's ribs were broken and that his liver and lungs were badly damaged.

Aan's relatives have filed a complaint with the police, charging police personnel of having torturing Aan during questioning.

"There must have been more than one people who tortured Aan, because it's impossible that one person with one strike could cause such serious injuries to Aan," Pudjijono said, adding that the investigation would continue. --JP