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Police chief orders probe into police custody death of suspected terrorist
Family members and local people carry the casket of Siyono, an alleged terrorist, in Brengkungan of Klaten regency of Central Java on March 13
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span class="inline inline-center">Family members and local people carry the casket of Siyono, an alleged terrorist, in Brengkungan of Klaten regency of Central Java on March 13. Siyono died during the police investigation. No information is available about his cause of death. The National Police are starting a probe amid reports by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) that suspects the Densus 88 counterterrorism squad tortured Siyono and violated arrest procedures.(Antara/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho)
Amid reports that physical abuse took place, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti is ordering the force's Internal Affairs Division (Propam) to investigate the cause of the death of an alleged terrorist who died while under arrest by the police.
The Division could also cooperate with the non-governmental organization, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), in the probe into the death of suspected terrorist Siyono, 34, Badrodin said on Monday.
Kontras suspected there was a violation of human rights that lead to Siyono's death in police custody.
"I have requested Propam to investigate it. Maybe they can coordinate with Kontras [to find] on which aspect violated human rights," Badrodin said as quoted by kompas.com.
There might be violations, he said, but he declined to make further comments and and said he would wait for Propam to conclude its investigation of Siyono's death.
Members of the National Police's counterterrorism squad, Densus 88, arrested Siyono, who was claimed by police as the commander of Neo Jamaah Islamiyah, the newer cell of militant group Jamaah Islamiyah on March in Klaten, Central Java.
He died on his fourth day in police custody with signs of physical abuse, Kontras' staff of civil and political rights division Satrio Wirataru said. The police sent his body from Bhayangkara Police Hospital in Jakarta back to his home in Klaten.
Kontras suspected the arrest of Siyono had violated human rights as the family found that Siyono's body was covered in wounds with bruises on his face and legs. He had suffered a broken nose and his head was also covered in blood when his family received the dead body.
Kontras also found indications that Densus 88 members violated administrative procedures in apprehending Siyono.
"There was no legal arrest or search warrant from Densus," Satrio told kompas.com.
Moreover, Kontras also found that Marso, Siyono's father, was allegedly intimidated into signing a letter prohibiting the family from filing a legal suit related to his son's death.
National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Anton Charliyan said last week that Siyono died after his head hit a blunt object during a fight with a Densus 88 member inside a car.
Anton admitted that police were negligence in escorting a terrorist suspect by having only one Densus 88 member and a driver accompanying Siyono during a transfer, although he gave no detail information about the location. There should have been at least two police personnel guarding a detainee, he added.
Police said Siyono asked for the Densus member to unlock his handcuffs and remove his blindfold. Police claim that since he was considered cooperative, the officer unlocked the handcuffs and Siyono attacked him in the car, which lead to the two men fighting each other. During the fight, Siyono accidentally hit the back of his head and went unconscious, claimed Anton.
Police said they would take firm actions against personnel who caused Siyono's death, Anton told kompas.com. (afr/rin)(+)
