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Police defend denying Jessica copy of investigation report
Maintaining innocence: Jessica Kumala Wongso is detained on Saturday evening by Jakarta Police investigators
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Maintaining innocence: Jessica Kumala Wongso is detained on Saturday evening by Jakarta Police investigators. She had earlier been named a suspect in the death of her friend, Wayan Mirna Salihin, who died after drinking cyanide-laced coffee at a Jakarta restaurant earlier this month. Jessica has repeatedly denied her involvement in the death of her friend. (Kompas/Alif Ichwan) (Kompas/Alif Ichwan)
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span class="inline inline-center">Maintaining innocence: Jessica Kumala Wongso is detained on Saturday evening by Jakarta Police investigators. She had earlier been named a suspect in the death of her friend, Wayan Mirna Salihin, who died after drinking cyanide-laced coffee at a Jakarta restaurant earlier this month. Jessica has repeatedly denied her involvement in the death of her friend. (Kompas/Alif Ichwan)
The Jakarta Police have defended a decision not to give Jessica Kumala Wongso, 27, who is accused of committing premeditated murder, a copy of her investigation report.
Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal said the police were not violating the law by not giving the report to Jessica, who was named a suspect on Friday in the investigation into the death of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin, 27.
'If her legal team wishes to file a complaint they are most welcome to. There is no requirement for the police to give a copy of an investigation report to a suspect. Moreover, he [Jessica's lawyer Yudi Wibowo Sukinto] accompanied her during her questioning. Before signing the report, we read it out again,' said Iqbal as quoted by kompas.com in Jakarta on Sunday.
He was speaking in response to Yudi's complaint that the police had breached regulations by not giving a copy of the investigation report to his client after she was interrogated on Saturday.
Iqbal said the investigation report was a private police document and therefore their decision a copy it to the suspect should not be called into question.
Instead, he suggested that Jessica's legal team focus on preparing their defense, especially if that defense could strengthen her claim that she did not kill Mirna, if they believed that their client was not guilty.
Jessica has repeatedly denied any involvement in the death of her Mirna, who died after drinking cyanide-laced coffee at a Jakarta restaurant earlier this month.
On Saturday morning Jessica was arrested and taken to the Jakarta Police headquarters to be interrogated. At 10:30 p.m. on Saturday the police decided to detain her. She will remain in police custody for the next 20 days. If there was still any unfinished business after that time, the police have said they would request a detention extension permit with the prosecutor's office.
In a press conference on Saturday, the Jakarta Police's general crimes chief Sr. Comr. Krishna Murti said information provided by Jessica during her interrogation process contradicted evidence obtained by the police.
'When she was interrogated as a witness in the case, Miss Jessica gave information that was very inconsistent and not in line with the facts we have obtained,' said Krishna as quoted by kompas.com.
Therefore, he added, the police would ask Jessica again about statements she had made after her status was upgraded from a witness to a suspect.
Jessica is being charged under Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder. The article carries the possibility of the death penalty, lifetime imprisonment or a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars. (ebf)
