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Police defend Jessica’s suspect status
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Sole judge I Wayan Merta (right) presides over a pretrial hearing at the Jakarta District Court on Tuesday. Through her lawyers, Jessica Kumala Wongso has filed a pretrial motion against the police for naming her a suspect in the murder of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin. (Antara/Reno Esnir)
T
he police have defended their move to name Jessica Kumala Wongso a suspect in the premeditated murder of Wayan Mirna Salihin, who died in early January after drinking an iced coffee at Olivier café in Central Jakarta together with Jessica and another friend, Hani.
Responding to a pretrial motion submitted to the Central Jakarta District Court, the police told sole judge I Wayan Merta at a pretrial hearing on Wednesday that they had ample evidence to name Jessica a suspect in the case.
On Tuesday, Jessica’s lawyers told a pretrial hearing that the police had violated existing procedures in naming their client a suspect.
They argued that the police did not have a permit from the court when they first raided Jessica's house. The lawyers also questioned the validity of other police actions including the detention and travel ban for their client as well as the Jakarta Police's authority to investigate the case, which was initially investigated by the Tanah Abang Police.
Regarding the raid, which was not carried out with a permit from the court, Jakarta Police lawyer Adj. Sr. Comr. Aminullah said the police had not violated procedures. "The raid could be conducted without a permit from the court due to its urgency. After the raid, we reported it to the court," he said.
Police also rebutted objections from Jessica's camp about the travel ban. According to the Criminal Law Procedures Code (KUHAP), the police are authorized to file a travel ban for anyone involved in a legal case, especially witnesses who have the potential to become suspects.
Regarding the authority to investigate, Aminullah said the murder case had been transferred to the Jakarta Police on Jan. 10.
“Therefore, all of the lawyers' objections regarding the arrest, raid, suspect status and travel ban of Jessica cannot be accepted,” Aminullah said, adding that the police had deemed Jessica to be a witness who had the potential to become a suspect.
During the pretrial hearing on Thursday, Jessica's lawyers will present two criminal experts to testify. The judge plans to reach a decision in early March. (bbn)
