Tjetje's relatives seeking assistance to get justice

BOGOR, West Java (JP): The relatives of Tjetje Tadjudin, the robbery suspect who died while in Bogor police custody, will visit the National Commission on Human Rights and the Bogor military police headquarters tomorrow to seek help and clarification on the victim's death and the robbery case.

"We will follow all procedures in seeking justice. We are also demanding all related institutions to help disclose the real cause of Tjetje's death," Sigit Supono, the relatives' spokesman, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Sigit, whose wife is a cousin of Tjetje, said the relatives want the names of all people involved in the death of Tjetje and in the fatal robbery that claimed the life of Zaenuddin Lesmana to be publicly announced.

West Java Police Chief Maj. Gen. Nana Permana officially declared Friday that the chief detective of the Bogor police, First Lt. DT, was a suspect in Tjetje's death.

Nana said two other sergeants were also being questioned for their involvement in Tjetje's killing.

Sigit said yesterday he would lead the relatives' delegation to the rights body in Jakarta and the Bogor military police headquarters.

"Tjetje's wife, Tati Nuryati, will join the delegation if she is healthy enough," Sigit said.

Still mourning the death of her husband, Tati has refused to receive any guests.

Tjetje and his family have been living in a small house in the Bumi Bekasi Baru Perumnas housing complex for more than five years, according to some nearby residents. Judging from the condition of the house, Tjetje was not a well-off man. His eldest daughter Ratih is 14 years old. Sari, the second, is now 6 and Susi is 10 months old.

Tjetje had worked for the Perumnas state-owned housing company for 16 years.

Tjetje's relatives are now gathering in Sigit's house in Cimanggis, Bogor. They have been tightlipped since speaking to the press Tuesday, the day of Tjetje's funeral.

Reporters had failed to meet Tjetje's older brother Benny Tadjudin, younger brother Toto Sugiarto and cousin Tedja, who were outspoken during the victim's funeral.

Tjetje and Norman Lubis accompanied Zaenuddin Lesmana in the same car when the latter, who had just withdrawn Rp 650 million (US$276,595) from the Bogor BRI bank, was shot to death in a robbery on the Bogor toll road Oct. 11.

The robbers stole Rp 350 million from the trunk of Zaenuddin's car.

Tjetje and Norman were later detained by the Bogor police because they were accused of being involved in the fatal robbery.

Tjetje died on Oct. 21 while in police custody.

The Bogor military police reportedly had questioned Tjetje after he told the police that the robber who shot Zaenuddin was an army sergeant.

Norman Lubis is still being detained by the police.

Sigit said the press has published misleading reports, implying that Tjetje was involved in the robbery.

"We are demanding that Tjetje's good name be rehabilitated. We do not want the public to brand his three daughters as children of a robber," Sigit said.

So far, the relatives have yet to explain the relationship between Tjetje and Zaenuddin. (kod)