Terror suspect to challenge police in court over arrest

Ruslan Sangadji, Palu

A man, who is being detained by police in the Central Sulawesi capital of Palu on charges of murdering prosecutor Ferry Silalahi, plans to sue them for what he claims was a wrongful arrest.

The 24-year old man, identified only as Emil, will be backed by at least 27 lawyers from the Indonesian Advocates Association (AAI) based in Palu.

Local AAI chairman Amat Entedaim said on Friday his office was awaiting a formal power of attorney from Emil and his family to file a lawsuit against the Palu Police over the alleged unlawful arrest.

"Whenever we receive the letter, the 27 lawyers will begin working," Amat added.

Emil's family and friends have demanded that he be released, and denied his alleged role in the May 26 murder of Ferry in Palu.

They accused the police of arresting the wrong man, insisting that Emil had an alibi.

Emil's wife Hamna and some friends argued that the arrested man was watching TV at a neighbor's house at the time of the murder, adding that he only heard about the incident on television.

The police were also slammed as unprofessional by Maj. Richard Tulong, the deputy commander of the Raksatama infantry battalion in Palu, for making random arrests.

The criticism was lodged after the police arrested on Monday a soldier, named only by his initial as R, in connection with the murder, and released him the following day.

Similarly, the Palu AAI chairman further said the detention of Emil as a suspect was a legal blunder because the police just simply arrested whoever they wished without sufficient evidence.

Amat said the unlawful arrest shows the Central Sulawesi Police were not professional.

The police only attempted to cover up their failure to capture the murderers of Ferry, even though they had disseminated the sketches of two suspects, he added.

"If they simply release Emil due to lack of evidence, it means the police have slapped themselves in the face," said Amat.

In a response to the planned lawsuit, Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufik Ridha said on Friday his office was ready to face it.

"It's his right (to sue) and we are prepared to face any legal consequences," he said.

Taufik insisted on claiming that the police has sufficient evidence to charge Emil. "So it's not an unlawful arrest because his detention is based on the results of a mature investigation."

Although Emil was not the prime suspect in the murder incident, the man would still be prosecuted under the terrorism law because he knew of the plan to carry out the murder but did not report it to the police, Taufik said.

He said police investigators would continue questioning Emil, who is being detained at the Central Sulawesi Police Headquarters.

Ferry, a prosecutor who helped try high-profile terrorism cases in Palu, was gunned down in his car outside a house in South Palu, while leaving with his wife for home after attending evening mass.

His wife Yulia had said four gunmen with long hair and dark skin, riding two motorcycles, carried out the attack.