Prosecutors cautious on journalist's murder

JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors in Yogyakarta say they will not try the man accused of murdering Yogyakarta journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin unless there is sufficient evidence.

Yogyakarta's prosecution office chief Asrief Adam said on Saturday his office had not yet received a dossier from the police on murder suspect Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik.

"We'll see later whether there's enough evidence or not to go ahead with a trial. If it's enough we'll proceed, if not then we'll drop the case," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Police are under increasing pressure to drop their case against Iwik because their evidence is weak and circumstantial.

The most damning criticism of the police's case has come from Fuad's wife, who said Iwik was not the same man whom she opened the door of her house to on the day her husband was attacked there.

Police say Iwik went to Fuad's house on Aug. 13 and beat him until he was unconscious. Fuad died in a Yogyakarta hospital three days later because of the bludgeoning.

Police say the killing was motivated by jealousy because Fuad was having an affair with Iwik's wife. Police also say they found bloodstained clothes and a bloodstained iron rod, believed to be the murder weapon, at Iwik's home.

Many people, including Fuad's colleague journalists, believe the police have arrested the wrong man, and that the murder was motivated by Faud's stinging articles published in Bernas newspaper on the establishment in Bantul district.

The National Commission on Human Rights found procedural errors in Iwik's arrest, expressed doubt over the police's findings, and said police should not eliminate the possibility that the real murderer or murderers are still at large.

Asrief said the prosecution had a right to ask the police for an explanation and more elaboration if it had any unanswered questions after studying their dossier.

On Friday, police submitted a request to the prosecutor's office to extend Iwik's detention period for another 20 days, after the first 20-day period expired.

Asrief said he had granted the police their request to give them more time to complete their investigation.

Asrief said the prosecutors office would take note of the comments by the National Commission on Human Rights. "The prosecution will act objectively in handling the case," he promised. (mds)