Six people questioned over fatal shooting of policeman

JAKARTA (JP): More than six people have been questioned over the fatal shooting of North Jakarta Policeman Sofjan Sani by East Jakarta Police last week.

City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that police had questioned more than six witnesses and asked the National Police forensic laboratory to assist in the case.

"The police have never intended to delay investigating this case. We have treated it seriously. Besides, the late Second Sergeant Sofjan Sani was one of us," Aritonang said.

Sofjan's father, Ajie Insani, said Tuesday that he would sue the police for defamation and unfair treatment of his family.

The police had allegedly called Sofjan an extortionist and forced Insani to sign a letter refusing an autopsy on his son's body.

City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata denied these charges yesterday.

Hamami said that it was Insani's legal right to go ahead with his lawsuit.

Aritonang said military police were holding two East Jakarta policemen, Second Lt. Pujo and Chief Sgt. Agus, at the City Police headquarters for the shooting.

Sofjan was shot dead Tuesday morning in East Jakarta by the two officers.

Police say Sofjan was killed in the Pondok Kopi area but Sofjan's family say he was killed on Jalan I Gusti Ngurah Rai.

Police reports said Sofjan was caught extorting a bus driver while in uniform.

They initially reported he may have been a "bogus" officer because he was not wearing a complete uniform. They said he had tried to attack officers with a sickle before they shot him.

Sofjan's family told the police to prove their allegations within a week or they will take the case to the National Commission on Human Rights and the courts.

Aritonang said the police were investigating the validity of reports on violations of police procedures in the shooting.

Police are also investigating whether Sofjan had extorted the bus driver and attacked the officers. (04)