Security beefed up at prosecutor's office after attack

Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Mataram

Security was tight at the West Nusa Tenggara Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday following Monday's attack by thousands of alleged supporters of Governor Lalu Serinata demanding the release of nine jailed graft suspects.

Dozens of police were on guard on Tuesday, while all visitors to the office had to pass through a metal detector.

According to the prosecutor office's public relations officer, Maryadi IK, the security measures were taken as a precaution after the attack. "Security measures are being taken in coordination with the police," he said.

The prosecutor's office also restricted visitors wanting to visit the nine jailed former councillors who were arrested last week after 12 people, including three councillors who are still in office, were named suspects in a mark-up case involving Rp 24.5 billion (US$2.7 million) of the West Nusa Tenggara 2001 provincial budget.

"We're simply being selective in giving permission. We only give permission to their close relatives (to visit)," Maryadi said.

Protesters smashed the prosecutor office's windows and injured several journalists covering the protest as well as Mataram Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ismail Bafadal by pelting them with stones.

The protest was allegedly conducted to show support for Governor Lalu Serinata who will be questioned as a witness in the case.

The protesters feared the governor, who was head of the budget committee when the case took place, would be named a suspect after the questioning. The protesters also demanded the release of the jailed graft suspects.

Ismail Bafadal said on Tuesday the police were now investigating the alleged involvement of the governor and the jailed graft suspects in the attack.

"If he's (the governor) proven to have been involved in the attack, we'll follow it up. We don't want to rush in saying he was directly or indirectly involved in the case. There's always other possibilities, including the nine jailed suspects as well as the provincial administration officials who joined the protesters in the attack," Ismail said.

The police, he said, would soon question some protesters, airing his suspicion the attack was well-planned. Unlike usual demonstrations, when the protesters arrived in front of the prosecutor's office they did not make any speeches but immediately pelted the building with stones.

"The attack was conducted systematically. There are people who controlled the protest from the start. We have enough data about it, but this is a process, it should be done in stages and we can't disclose the names of the suspects (in the attack)," he said.

Governor Lalu Serinata regretted the attack, telling people on Tuesday not to be provoked and to allow the prosecutors to deal with the case.

When asked of the protesters' fear that his questioning, which is scheduled on Wednesday, was a move to unseat him, he said: "It will not be easy to bring down a governor".

He said he was ready to be questioned as a witness in the case but refused to comment when asked whether he was behind the attack, or someone was trying to tarnish his name as the protesters claimed to be showing support for him.