Tangerang police chief refuses to meet reporters
Tangerang police chief refuses to meet reporters
JAKARTA (JP): The Tangerang police chief refused to receive a photojournalist who wanted to explain the detail of his dispute with a local village head.
Robin Ong, former photographer at banned Tempo magazine, who came to the Tangerang police precinct with six reporters on Friday failed to meet the precinct chief, Lt. Col. Hari Setiabudhi, who chose to stay in his room.
The reporters, including two crew members of the private TPI television, said on Saturday that their visit with Robin to Tangerang was the idea of City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna.
According to the reporters, Lt. Col. Hari Setiabudhi did not leave his room to meet the reporters although his secretary told him that the journalists were waiting.
"We wasted two hours," Masri Pasaribu, a crime reporter of the Sinar Pagi daily, complained.
Robin Ong is in the middle of a dispute with Mulyadi, the head of Bugel village, because of Robin's letter to Bisnis Indonesia, a morning daily. Robin complained about the floods, which hit the Banjarwijaya housing complex where he and his family live. The letter also mentioned that the flood had also inundated the village head's house, including the karaoke singing room.
Mulyadi was reportedly unhappy with this letter and is said to have threatened to kill Robin and his family. Robin's wife said Mulyadi had phoned her several times, threatening to kill her and her children.
Robin's house maids said as interviewed by TPI on Saturday that Mulyadi, accompanied with some people had come to seek Robin.
Robin is suing Mulyadi for threatening him, his wife and children.
Mulyadi has denied the allegations, saying that he had just wanted to ask Robin why he wrote such a letter.
Mulyadi also sued Robin for damaging his reputation.
To clear matters up, City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna suggested to him last Wednesday that he should go to meet Lt. Col Hari Setiabudhi to explain his position and the details of the case.
The six reporters decided to accompany Robin, who was afraid of going to the precinct alone.
Hari's refusal to receive Robin showed up the police's poor attitude to public service, the reporters said.
"He should at least have told us why he didn't want to meet and talk with us," said Agus MR of Harian Indonesia.
It is generally understood that Mulyadi was offended at the letter because it drew attention to his Karaoke room. One might be inclined to wonder how an honest village chief could afford such a luxury.
On the day the letter was published, Robin said Mulyadi intimidated him over the phone. Several hours later, according to Robin, the village chief came along with two thugs and shouted at his maid that he wanted to kill Robin, his children and wife.
According to deputy chief of the Tangerang Police, Maj. Bambang, neither Robin's nor Mulyadi's version of events can be verified, due to a shortage of material evidence and witnesses.
"It's pointless to continue our investigation to complete the dossiers," said Bambang, adding that a recorded telephone interview is not material evidence according to the law.
The Robins were still not living at their home yesterday, even though the police has guaranteed the safety of his family.
"I'm not taking any risks," said Robin. (bsr)