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Police probe Densus 88 over Siyono's death
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Family members and local people carry the coffin of Siyono, an alleged terrorist, in Brengkungan, Klaten regency, Central Java, on March. 13. (Antara/Aloysius Jarot Nugroho)
T
he National Police are investigating counterterrorism unit Densus 88 over the death of terror suspect Siyono, who died while being interrogated by the squad.
National Police Internal Affairs Division (Propam) chief Insp. Gen. Mochammad Iriawan said members of his team were questioning a number of witnesses from the squad.
"We have scrutinized seven members of Densus 88 who guarded and drove Siyono from his house in Klaten, Central Java, to the interrogation center," Iriawan said as reported by Antara news agency on Thursday.
Beside Densus 88, Propam is also investigating a number of chiefs from the Central Java Police.
The division did not deny the fact that Densus 88 had violated procedures in arresting Siyono.
Siyono, the alleged commander of neo-Jamaah Islamiyah (neo-JI), died in suspicious circumstances while in police custody over a four-day period.
The police previously claimed that Siyono died from a brain hemorrhage after being hit by a blunt object, allegedly a metal object inside a car after attempting to escape from a police officer.
But a recent autopsy result released by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said Siyono passed away after a broken rib pierced his heart.
The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has alleged that Densus 88 tortured Siyono during the interrogation process.
However, National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said people should not jump to conclusions.
"Did the autopsy result show evidence of torture? Don't jump to conclusions,” Tito said to journalists.
The autopsy revealed the presence of wounds, but it could not prove how or why the wounds came about, Tito said. (bbn)
