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Pressure mounts on police to release Susno
The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) failed Tuesday to take custody of Susno Duadji from the police, who activists said were trying to prevent the whistle-blower from revealing graft cases in the force
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he Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) failed Tuesday to take custody of Susno Duadji from the police, who activists said were trying to prevent the whistle-blower from revealing graft cases in the force.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang said Tuesday the police had the right to keep Susno in custody. “Please, respect our authorities,” he said.
Edward said the police respected the rights of the LPSK, “But we named Pak Susno a suspect first before [LPSK] put him in their protection program.”
The witness protection program is Susno’s last hope to get out of the police’s detention for charges he said were fabricated by the police after a Jakarta district court ruled that his arrest and detention was legal.
LPSK officials Tuesday met with police officials at the police headquarters to discuss Susno’s custody but there were no signs the police general will be released soon.
“We have settled a number of crucial issues, but I cannot disclose them now,” LPSK chairman Abdul Haris Semendawai told The Jakarta Post when asked the results of the meeting with the police.
“We have different points of view on this issue,” he said.
“We know that Pak Susno is a suspect who the police have the authority to detain. But at the same time, he is also a witness who has the right to be protected,” he said. The LPSK, established in late 2008, has never had a detained suspect under their protection program.
Abdul refused to mention the police leaders they had just met. “They are representing the National Police chief.”
He also declined to comment on the allegations that the police had pressured them not to take Susno from their custody. The police’s move has drawn protests from activists. Transparency International Indonesia secretary-general Teten Masduki said it was a setback in judicial reform efforts.
“In the US, the witness and victim protection program is made by an agency under the police. In Susno’s case, the police seem to be the threat. That seems to be the reason why they are resistant to the LPSK’s request,” he told Post.
He suspected that the police might be afraid that Susno would reveal the ring of judicial mafia involving many high-ranking police officers.
Teten said he acknowledged that Susno was also part of the mafia. “But Susno must also be allowed to reveal the mafia without pressure. He clearly will be charged with his role in the crime but so must other police officers involved in the ring,” he said.
Susno is currently detained in the police detention facility in Depok, West Java, where he has been since May 10.
The LPSK has officially put Susno under its protection program after examining the protection request filed by Susno through his lawyers.
Susno has been in trouble since he uncovered an alleged corruption case involving former tax official Gayus Tambunan, implicating officials from the police and the Attorney General’s Office.
At least nine suspects have been named in the case, including police detectives, a judge, lawyers and businesspeople. Following the controversial revelation, Susno claimed he and his family had frequently received threats over the phone and via text messages. Susno also said that he was being stalked. As part of the protection program, Susno is supposed to be located in a safe house provided by the LPSK.
