Three cops detained over Sumbawa riot

Three cops detained over Sumbawa riot

Luh Putu, Trisna Wahyuni and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post,
Mataram/Jakarta

Three police officers have been detained in connection with the
death of a student that led to a riot on Thursday in Sumbawa
Besar regency, West Nusa Tenggara, National Police chief Gen.
Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday.

The three local police officers have been charged with causing
the death of Mustakim, 22, a Samawa University student.

"The police have identified three officers who were in charge
of Mustakim while he was in police custody, and they have been
named suspects," Da'i told reporters after attending Friday
prayers at National Police Headquarters, South Jakarta.

Mustakim's death triggered a riot in Sumbawa Besar that led to
the death of a protester, Gathan, while 11 others sustained
injuries in the violence.

West Nusa Tenggara Police chief Brig. Gen. Sutomo Tjokro
Atmodjo said the three officers, who are all ranked second
brigadier, have been identified only by their initials: SU, NV
and A.M.

Sutomo said the three were arrested after they were found
guilty of "violating police procedures", which caused the death
of Mustakim, but did not elaborate.

He said the decision was taken after an investigation by the
police's internal affairs unit, which questioned 15 police
officers and three detainees in connection with the incident.

The doctor who had conducted an autopsy on Mustakim's body
concluded that the student had died of a blood clot caused by a
blow to his head.

Sutomo said they were not yet certain whether the blood clot
was a result of beatings suffered at the hands of the police, or
of injuries Mustakim sustained in a motorcycle accident on
Monday, when he hit another motorcyclist, Akhirkan.

According to Sutomo, Mustakim fell, unconscious, from his
motorcycle and was admitted to a nearby hospital by a resident,
Burhan Salengke, who lived near the site of the accident.

Upon gaining consciousness at hospital, Mustakim became
aggressive and psychologically unstable, prompting hospital staff
to call the police.

Three police officers arrived to take Mustakim to Sumbawa
Besar police station, but shortly afterwards, he was returned by
the same officers to the hospital.

It was discovered later that Mustakim was already dead by
then, said Sutomo.

Upon finding out that the Mustakim had died while in police
custody, local residents and students stormed Sumbawa Besar
police station on Thursday and demanded justice.

The protest turned violent after a police officer declared
that Mustakim had died of a drug overdose, infuriating local
residents who believed that Mustakim was tortured to death by the
police.

The protesters allegedly broke through a police cordon during
the protest, prompting the police to shoot at them.

Sutomo stressed that the police did not commit any procedural
violations in handling Thursday's riot.

The incidents have led to the dismissals of Sumbawa Besar
Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Bambang Suharno and his deputy Comr.
Taufik Wijaya. The two were transferred to the West Nusa Tenggara
Police Headquarters.

"The step was taken to calm down the residents of Sumbawa
Besar," said Sutomo.