Three suspects in police death released on bail

JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta police confirmed yesterday that they released on bail late last week three of the eight suspects in their investigation into the death in March of a police officer in the Blok M shopping area.

"We decided to temporarily postpone their detention after receiving a guarantee that the three would be able to be reached any time we need them," local police chief, Lt. Col. Silvanus Yulian Wenas, told The Jakarta Post.

He declined, however, to give further details.

The three suspects, identified as Steve, James Rudi Lasatira and Robinson, were released on Saturday, after about 90 days in the custody of the South Jakarta police custody. Written guarantees were provided by their relatives, parents and lawyers.

The three were arrested, along with seven other suspected street criminals, several days after the violent which left First Lieutenant Budi Prasetya dead and his partner, Capt. Arman Depari, injured.

Two other suspects, Mario Taihutu and Frenki Tulehu, have died since the incident.

Mario was shot dead by police four days after the Budi's death. The police claim that, when they killed him, Mario was attempting to flee, after being asked the whereabouts of the other suspects.

Frenki died late last month of serious head wounds at the police hospital in Kramatjati, East Jakarta, several days after being transferred from police custody.

Wenas said that Frenki had been in a state of depression and had refused food for a week prior to his death.

Police sources told the Post yesterday that Frenki had hit his head against the cell wall several times and that he had once told fellow detainees that he believed he might face the death penalty.

Frenki was kept in solitary confinement.

Wenas earlier denied suggestions that Frenki died after being severely tortured by police officers.

"There is no sign of torture. Look at the results of the post mortem examination later," he said.

Based on the accounts of eye witnesses and other evidence, police believed that Frenki was the one who stabbed Budi and that Mario was the one who started the incident that culminated in the policeman's death.

Both the police were plainclothes officers and students of Jakarta's prestigious Police College.

Five suspects remain in South Jakarta police custody in relation to the incident, namely Reza Lawalatta, Jimiko Danyanto alias Miko, Idris Tuarita, Kifli, and Amerson.

Police said yesterday the five would not be released on bail, citing the fact that dossiers on the five had not yet been completed.

"We also need supporting statements from some witnesses in order to complete the dossiers and to prevent objections from the suspects later in court," he said. (bsr)