Sketches of Palu suspects released
Sketches of Palu suspects released
Ruslan Sangadji, Palu
Central Sulawesi Police disseminated on Saturday the sketches of
two suspects in the murder of prosecutor Ferry Silalahi, who
helped try terrorism cases in the provincial capital of Palu.
The police also deployed intelligence officers and detectives
to hunt down the suspects still at large in the province.
"We will comb all corners of Palu city and other likely places
in order to capture them," Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig.
Gen. Taufik Ridha told journalists.
Based on the sketches distributed through police stations
across Central Sulawesi, one suspect had long, straight hair, and
another curly hair.
Taufik said the sketches were drawn up and disseminated after
questioning a number of eyewitnesses.
He called on local residents who recognized the men to
immediately report to the authorities.
"I ask people not to conceal the whereabouts of the two men
because we have actually found their hideouts," Taufik added.
He said that the police had even identified the suspects but
refused to reveal their names publicly in the hope that they
would not flee Central Sulawesi.
Ferry's wife, Yulia, said on Thursday the attack was carried
out by four gunmen on two motorcycles, adding that the suspects
had dark skin and long hair.
Ferry was shot dead on Wednesday night in his car outside the
residence of lawyer Thomas D. Ihalaw on Jl. Swadaya in Tana
Modindi neighborhood, South Palu. The prosecutor and his wife
were just leaving the house after attending evening mass.
He had been working in Palu for over a year, and like other
prosecutors he dealt with dozens of cases, including those on
corruption and terrorism.
The most recent cases he had prosecuted were those on Bali
bombing suspects Firmansyah, Fajri and Aang Hasanuddin.
Firmansyah and Fajri were sentenced to five years for aiding
and abetting another Bali bombing suspect, Achmad Roichan, while
Aang was jailed for three years for not informing police of the
activities of the other two.
However, an appeals court ordered on May 11 the release of the
convicts from detention, but Ferry and prosecutor Syahrul Alam
rejected it, pending a Supreme Court ruling.
The body of Ferry was buried on Saturday in Bogor, West Java.
The murder of Ferry, the latest mystery shooting in Central
Sulawesi, prompted the National Police to provide individual
bodyguards for prosecutors and judges assigned in Palu.
Police protection has been given to four other prosecutors and
judges handling terrorism cases in the city.
Prosecutors and judges in other conflict areas, Aceh, Papua
and Maluku provinces -- particularly those dealing with cases
that could endanger their lives, would also be provided security
from the police, National Police chief Da'i Bachtiar said on
Friday.