Trial of suspected E. Java killers to start this week

SURABAYA (JP): East Java chief prosecutor Adenan Kasian said on Monday that trials would begin this week of people suspected of involvement in various murders in at least 11 of the provinces' regencies over the past months.

Speaking after a roll call of the East Java Provincial Police, Adenan said his office had prepared dossiers on 54 of 157 suspects and submitted them to the court.

"Fifty-two dossiers were submitted to the Banyuwangi District Court and two others to the Bangil and Pasuruan district courts. Six of the dossiers have been declared complete and trials will immediately commence," he said.

He acknowledged that the public was impatient to see legal sanctions imposed on perpetrators.

Nearly 200 people have fallen victim in the killing spree. Most were suspected of practicing black magic while others were suspected of being the mysterious killers, including three police officers on Saturday and Sunday. The murderers of the first group have been dubbed "ninjas" after their black outfits and stealth. Their victims have mostly been Moslem clerics.

When asked about the mastermind of the murder spree, Adenan said quickly: "Please, wait and see." He said his office was focusing its investigation on the legal process of the case and had yet to probe nonlegal factors behind the murders.

Meanwhile, East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. M. Dayat called on the government to honor the three police detectives who were killed in Bangkalan, Madura, by an angry mob who suspected them of being "ninja-killers."

"We suggest they be awarded with the title Bhayangkara Heroes and posthumously promoted from second sergeants to chief sergeants," Dayat said, adding that the police would also pay compensation to the officers' families.

The three victims were Second Sgt. Yunus A. Parembong, Second Sgt. Hadiri and Second Sgt. Hadiri. The incident occurred when MS, a man wanted in connection with receiving stolen goods, attempted to evade capture by shouting that he was being chased by "ninjas", referring to five detectives who were nearing MS' house in Kajuana village. They had a suspected motorcycle thief, AL, with them.

Hearing the shout, residents surrounded the detectives and started beating them. Yunus was beaten to death on the spot while his four colleagues escaped. But the following day villagers found Dahiri and Dahlan and beat them to death.

Dayat said that both AL and MS were involved in the murder spree and that police, in cooperation with villagers, would work hard until they were captured.

Four police squads from Bangkalan and Surabaya have been deployed to search for and capture the two.

Dayat also regretted the incident, saying residents should have handed over the suspected killers to the police.

On Monday the village was still tense following the murdering of the officers.

In Central Java alone eight people have been killed by angry residents. In contrast to victims of other mob killings, provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi said the eight were actual "ninjas" suspected of intimidating clerics and Koranic teachers. However, he confirmed that most victims were those with mental disorders, killed when they were search for food in villages. (rms/har/nur)