T

angerang Police have arrested four Tangerang municipal public order officers for their alleged involvement in the drowning of 42-year-old sex worker Vivi, during a raid last month in the vicinity of the Ci-sadane sluice gate.

Tangerang Police's chief homicide detective, Comr. Budhi Herdi Susyanto, said Friday that Dasiman Mulyono, Suhandi, Langgeng Wahyudi and Sahudin had been named suspects in the case.

"Those officers did not follow the orders of their superiors to carry out the raid only in the vicinity of Anyar Market," Budhi said.

"They extended their operations to the sluice gate, which is located 500 meters from the market, thus underlining a clear violation of orders."

During the May 18 raid, Vivi, along with four other sex workers, Santi, Yeyen and Ami, were reportedly cornered by a group of public order officers on Jl. Flamboyan.

The four women then decided to jump into the 20-meter-deep Cisadane River, rather than be caught by the officers.

One of the survivors, Yeyen, said that instead of helping them, some officers pelted them with stones and swore at them. Vivi, who could not swim, was later found dead in the river, prompting an immediate police investigation into the case.

Budhi said the police had decided to detain the officers, out of concerns that similar incidents could recur if the officers were not taken into custody.

All four suspects had previously been allowed to resume normal duties after the drowning.

Budhi added the suspects would be charged with violating Criminal Code Article 359 on negligence leading to death of others, and Article 531 on omissions leading to the death of those requiring help. If found guilty, the four officers could each face five years in prison.

Tihadi Antonius, head of supervision at the public order agency, defended their actions and said the raid had been properly conducted.

He claimed the raid was in line with a 2008 bylaw banning prostitution in the municipality. The raid was also in line with another bylaw banning the distribution and consumption of liquor, he added.

Tihadi insisted his men were innocent in Vivi's death.