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span class="inline inline-left">Did you kill?: The main suspect in a case surrounding the murder of two housemaids, Syamsul Anwar (right), talks to police investigators during a reconstruction of the crime on Jl. Beo in Medan, North Sumatra, on Tuesday.A manpower placement agency in Medan, North Sumatra, which is owned by the family of suspect Syamsul Anwar that allegedly physically abused and killed two domestic maids, is believed to be supported by the police as the agency does not have a permit.

The Medan Manpower and Social Services Office said the employment agency, owned by Syamsul'€™s family, did not have a permit and had been blacklisted for a long time.

Office representative Sekarwati said her office often received complaints from residents on the criminality of the employment agency.

She added that her office had never extended the operating license of the company after it expired  in 2007.

'€œThe Manpower and Social Services Office blacklisted the company after receiving complaints on the criminal acts it carried out,'€ Sekarwati told reporters in Medan.

She said the company previously had a special work bourse permit (BKK) with which the family of the suspect operated two companies, CV Maju Jaya, located on Jl. Beo, and BKK Raja, located on Jl. Sei Kera in Medan.

However, since 2007, added Se-karwati, the permits of both employment agencies had expired and were not extended by the office.

The police have raided both companies. First they raided CV Maju Jaya, which was also Syamsul'€™s house. In the raid, police rescued three domestic maids who were apparently tortured by the family for years.

The police raided the companies after they discovered the body of a former maid, Cici. Her body was dumped and buried as an unidentified person in Kabanjahe, Karo regency. Cici is believed to have been tortured to death by the Syamsul family.

On Monday, police identified a second victim whose body was still at Pirngadi General Hospital in Medan. The victim, identified as Yanti, is believed to have been tortured by the family as well.

Police reported that at least 10 maids who were connected with the companies are still missing.

Medan municipal councilor Hasyim, from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), believed many manpower placement agencies in Medan operated without permits.

'€œIn Medan, we believe there are problems in many employment agencies but, surprisingly, they are freely operating despite having been reported to the police. What'€™s going on with the police?'€ asked Hasyim.

Hasyim said residents had repeatedly reported the company'€™s criminal acts to the police but received no response. Hasyim said it would have been impossible for the company to operate safely without a permit had it not had police support.

'€œWe urge police to curb these companies; if need be, arrest them and bring them to court,'€ Hasyim said.

The allegation that perhaps some police members were supporting the suspect'€™s criminal activities arose after investigators found motorcycles and cars with license plates that had police emblems attached.

In response, North Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Eko Hadi Sutedjo said he would not hesitate to take action against police members who supported the suspect.

'€œWe will uncover the case, especially those who support the business. Report them to me, whether they are members of the police, or military. Those who provide backing will be disciplined and prosecuted,'€ Eko emphasized.