Slain journalist's widow refuses examination

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Marsiyem, the wife of slain journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, answered a police summons yesterday but refused to undergo a psychiatric examination to determine whether she could withstand further questioning.

Accompanied by her lawyers, Ari Suseta, Winarsa and Budi Hartono, Marsiyem went to the Yogyakarta police station but told chief investigator Lt. Col. Hanifan she was not willing to be taken to hospital to be examined.

She was also accompanied by Soemardi, the psychiatrist who had previously diagnosed her as being depressed, saying she should not be subjected to further questioning lest her condition worsen.

"I am not willing to be examined. I am still sick," Marsiyem told Hanifan. She then signed a statement refusing the examination. She also requested permission to rest in one of the police station's rooms complaining of fatigue.

Yesterday, Soemardi said Marsiyem was somewhat better but still weak and unstable. On several earlier occasions, Soemardi has said Marsiyem's mental health would be put at serious risk if police persisted with their demands to question her.

The investigation into the August murder has not progressed smoothly, being marked by procedural twists and turns that has attracted criticism about the police.

For instance, the police borrowed a sample of the journalist's blood for investigation, and never returned the remainder. When asked, police said the blood sample had been floated out to sea, in the Javanese tradition of labuh, so that superhuman powers would not obstruct the investigation.

Police also arrested Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik, in a manner that drew public fire. Police reportedly tried to bribe him, a driver at a local advertising firm, with wealth and position in return for his confession to the killing. Dwi was also "given a woman" and given alcoholic drinks until he passed out before being taken into police custody.

Marsiyem has testified that Dwi was not the man who went to her house on the evening of Aug. 13 and bludgeoned her husband. But police still insist he is the killer although they have released him pending further investigation.

Yesterday, the lawyers said Marsiyem had the right not to take the psychiatric examination. Ari Suseta said the Yogyakarta police, on the other hand, had no right to insist that a witness' health be examined.

According to the Criminal Code, investigators may request physical and mental examinations for victims only, Ari argued.

"The investigators are only trying to force their wishes on the witness," Budi charged.

Since the death of Fuad, also known as Udin, on Aug. 16, Marsiyem has been questioned seven times. She fell into a deep depression and was reportedly unable to recognize people several days before the police held a reconstruction of the murder late last year.

Police held the reconstruction twice, and Marsiyem failed to participate in it both times. Dwi has denied killing the journalist.

Book

Fuad, a journalist at the Bernas daily, was known for his critical reporting on the policies of both the Yogyakarta provincial and Bantul regency administrations. Shortly after he died on Aug. 16, there was intense speculation about the link between his writing and the murder.

Yesterday, a group of journalists launched a compilation of Fuad's writings. Entitled Udin. Darah Wartawan: Liputan Menjelang Kematian (Udin. The Blood of a Journalist: Reports Prior to Death), the book was published by Pustaka Republika and Mizan publishing.

At a reception at the Yogyakarta branch of the Indonesian Journalists' Association, the secretary-general of the association, Parni Hadi, presented Fuad's father with a copy of the book. Attending the occasion were poet Emha Ainun Nadjib, senior journalist Sindhunata and Inspector General of Development Kentot Harseno.

Editor Noorca M. Massardi said the book was published to help the public understand the kind of writings that had reportedly led to Fuad's death. (23/swe)