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W. Sumatra police chief in hot water over lack of transparency in teen death probe
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Illustration of a police tape sealing a crime scene. (Shutterstock/Prath)
W
est Sumatra Police chief Insp. Gen. Suharyono has stirred widespread controversy amid pressure for the force to be transparent regarding the suspicious death of a boy in Padang, who allegedly was beaten to death by officers.
The death of the 13-year-old schoolboy, identified by his initials AM, has sparked nationwide outrage and calls for police reform after news reports about the alleged police brutality circulated on social media.
His body was found under a bridge on June 9 with multiple injuries, and his family alleged that he died after being tortured by police officers, who stopped him and his friends on suspicion of attempting to start a brawl.
The West Sumatra Police have denied the allegations, saying AM died when his fractured ribs punctured his lungs, a fatal injury the police said AM sustained after jumping from a 12-meter-high bridge to avoid the police.
But the Padang Legal Aid Institute (LBH Padang), which represents the family of the boy, said on Tuesday that Suharyono and his ranks attempted to keep the family from seeking justice and tried to distract the attention of the public from the alleged torture.
“The police chief has been inconsistent with his comments on the case,” LBH Padang said in a statement.
On Sunday, Suharyono said his investigators had closed their probe and concluded that AM was killed when he jumped from a bridge into the river to avoid police detention.
