Ombudsman to Accommodate Report of Suspected Police Brutality
20 September 2018 12:42 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ombudsman said that they expect to receive a citizen report on the case involving a victim of a possible police brutality where the victim was shot dead by police in an operation to eradicate street crimes prior to the 2018 Asian Games.
Ombudsman Commissioner Adrianus Meliala said that he will accommodate members of the public that intends to follow-up the case. However, he said that the Ombudsman will not directly handle the case in the form of an investigation.
“We will provide passive assistance. If someone comes to us to ask about the suspected violation conducted by the police, we will provide an answer,” said Adrianus in a text message Tempo received on Wednesday, September 19.
The family of the victim that was executed by police during a street crime police operation reported the Jakarta Metro Police to the Indonesian National Police Criminal Investigation Department.
“We found elements of irregularity on the murder, which was way out of line,” said Saleh Al-Ghifari, public attorney from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) on Wednesday.
Five people from the victim’s family together with the LBH Jakarta went to Bareskrim headquarters, “They all demand justice,” said Saleh.
Read also: Anies Baswedan to Review Ombudsman Report
Bareskrim initially refused to accept the families’ report and suggested that they file a report to Police’s Internal Affairs Division (Propam) and include the names of the police members that possibly violated the law and police firing procedure.
The police operation in hunting down street criminals took place one month prior to the 2018 Asian Games and killed 15 suspected criminals. Police were instructed by Police Chief General Tito Karnavian to “Shoot at the spot,” for street criminals that resist police members.
Tempo`s investigation upon Jakarta Metro Jaya’s police operation uncovered irregularities behind the killing of the men. A number of witnesses revealed to Tempo that some of the arrested people were shot dead despite not resisting arrest.
IMAM HAMDI
