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Police denies death of terror suspect Siyono was murder
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The legal and human rights chairman on Muhammadiyah's central committee, Busyro Muqoddas (center), head of forensics Gatot Suharto (left) and National Commission on Human Rights member Siane Indriani display Rp 100 million given to the family of Siyono, the alleged terrorist who died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody in March. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
A
panel holding an ethics hearing on the case of two Densus 88 counterterrorism squad members involved in the arrest of terror suspect Siyono has ruled that the agents only breached procedure.
The panel rejected allegations that the Densus 88 agents had engaged in torture and violence that led to Siyono’s death, National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said.
"We see no indication of deliberate murder. They [Densus 88 members] were on duty [during the incident]," Boy was quoted as saying by kompas.com on Thursday.
Siyono's death was accidental due to the negligence of Densus 88 agents in guarding Siyono in the car, in which the terror suspect was being transported unrestrained, Boy said.
Two Densus 88 members, identified only as Adj. Sr. Comr. T and Insp. H, will be punished for violating procedure stipulated in a National Police chief decree during the arrest of Siyono. The two agents will be demoted and are required to apologize to their superiors.
They will be transferred from Densus 88, with Adj. Sr. Comr. T and Insp. H to serve for four years with other units.
Not only did Densus 88 breach procedure and transport the suspect unrestrained, the investigation noted that there was another violation in that more agents should have escorted Siyono when he was transported by car.
Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah central board and Siyono's family plan to report the two Densus 88 members to the police, accusing them of murder.
"We will accept the complaint. However, in this case all will be sent to police investigators to collect corroborating evidence," Boy said.
Siyono, thought to be a leader of Neo Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), was escorted by only two Densus 88, one who drove and one who sat beside him, inside the car en route to the alleged location of the group’s weapons cache.
He died under suspicious circumstances while in Densus 88 custody four days after his arrest. Reports say his body was covered in wounds and bruises, including on his head, raising suspicions that police abuse had led to his death. (afr/dmr)
