Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding Mr. Sutrisno alias Lahido (35). In the Sigi Police Station, (Polres Sigi), Central Sulawesi province, Mr. Sutrisno was tortured to death. He had surrendered peacefully and was very cooperative. Eight police officers have been detained by the Provost and Security unit (Propam), Central Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Sulteng). They were charged with interdisciplinary punishment (violation of code of conduct), but no criminal charges were laid. The victim’s family–his wife and five children, face uncertain law enforcement procedures in the future. In addition, the government has not awarded any compensation to the family. Police tried to explain away the fact that Sutrisno’s death was caused by torture. On the contrary, the police stated he died due to a fight between Sutrisno, who was trying to escape, and a police officer. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has shown its willingness to establish an independent team to investigate the case, and to show the pattern of human rights violations.
CASE NARRATIVE:
On 24 February 2017, between 01.00 and 02.00 am, Mr. Sutrisno, along with three friends, escaped from prison. They had been charged as thieves. In the morning, Sigi Police Station (Polres Sigi) officers went to search for the four men.
The police got in touch with Mr. Irman and Ms. Asniar, Sutrisno’s family members including Sutrisno’s wife, Mrs. Mariam. They all agreed to help the police to convince Sutrisno to surrender. The wife’s mobile phone, as evidence of their agreement, was given to the police officer Adjunct-commissaries Police (AKP) Suraji, in the hope of locating her husband’s hiding place.
On February 26, between 12.00 and 01.00 pm, Sutrisno’s wife and brother had information regarding his whereabouts. They went to the hiding place, which was in his cousin’s house in Lolu village, Sigi Biromaru sub-district, Sigi Regency. Shortly thereafter, they phoned the police and informed them of Sutrisno’s location.
At approximately 01.00 pm, the wife and brother went by motorcycle to Lolu village, followed by three police officers. When they arrived and found the hiding place, the police re-arrested him. He was cooperative and went peacefully. He did not resist. Nevertheless, the police bound his hands behind his back, covering his face with a t-shirt. Sutrisno’s wife, who witnessed the arrest, said that her husband at that time was in good physical condition and had no health problems.
On the way to the Sigi Police Station, Mr. Windra, a police officer who arrested Sutrisno, reported to his commander, AKP Suraji, that Sutrisno did not resist and was very cooperative. About 01.30 pm, police officer, Windra, with Sutrisno’s uncle and two friends arrived at the Sigi Police Station.
There were many police officers standing around waiting for Sutrisno, including AKP Suraji. Then, in order to keep Sutrisno safe, Windra shouted “Do not hit him (Sutrisno). He surrendered without resistance, and if (you) hit him, it means that you also hit me.”
Windra brought Sutrisno to an interrogating room and formally handed him over to AKP Suraji. Windra requested he secure Sutrisno but not beat him because he surrendered peacefully. Windra left the police station to continue to search for one of the other escaped suspects.
After Windra left, Mr. Ishak, a police officer on duty, saw more than 10 police officers surrounding a man in custody who was Sutrisno. Ishak heard the man scream. Besides Sutrisno, there were three other prisoners in custody. They witnessed Mr. Sutrisno being viciously beaten to death by a dozen police officers using wooden and rattan laths .
At 08.00 pm, Sutrisno’s body was brought to the Bhayangkara Hospital of Central Sulawesi regional police (Polda Sulawesi Tengah), in Palu city. At 1.00 am on February 27, Sutrisno’s family was informed of his death. At 07.00 am the family went to the hospital to claim Sutrisno’s body for burial.
At 10:00 am, after seeing the condition of Sutrisno’s body, the family immediately brought him to the Tota Belo Hospital to be examined for the cause of death. His entire body was badly beaten, with contusions on the back, unexplained holes in the body and a serious head injury. After the examination at the hospital, the family buried Sutrisno with uncertain law enforcement procedures and investigations facing them in the future.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities listed below, asking them to ensure that police brutality which caused the death of Mr. Sutrisno, should be investigated properly using fair trial principles. The police officers found guilty should be prosecuted and tried without undue delay. The government should ensure compensation for the victim’s family. The President and Parliament should evaluate police reform seriously. They need to apply a high standard of law enforcement to eradicate impunity. This type of crime CAN be stopped from occurring in the future.
The AHRC will write a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions and the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment calling for their intervention in this matter.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
INDONESIA: Escaped prisoner re-arrested and tortured to death by police officers in the Sigi Police Station, Central Sulawesi
Name of victim: Mr. Sutrisno alias Lahido (35)
Names of alleged perpetrators: AKP Suraji and twelve police officers of the Sigi Police Station
Date of incidents: Between 24 to 27 February 2017
Place of incident: Sigi Police Station (Polres Sigi), Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding regarding Mr. Sutrisno alias Lahido (35). In the Sigi Police Station, (Polres Sigi), Central Sulawesi province, Mr. Sutrisno was tortured to death. He had surrendered peacefully and was very cooperative. Eight police officers have been detained by the Provost and Security unit (Propam), Central Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Sulteng). They were charged with interdisciplinary punishment (violation of code of conduct), but no criminal charges were laid.
The victim’s family–his wife and five children, face uncertain law enforcement procedures in the future. In addition, the government has not awarded any compensation to the family. Police tried to explain away the fact that Sutrisno’s death was caused by torture. On the contrary, the police stated he died due to a fight between Sutrisno, who was trying to escape, and a police officer. The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has shown its willingness to establish an independent team to investigate the case, and to show the pattern of human rights violations.
On 24 February 2017, between 01.00 and 02.00 am, Mr. Sutrisno, along with three friends, escaped from prison. They had been charged as thieves. In the morning, Sigi Police Station (Polres Sigi) officers went to search for the four men.
The police got in touch with Mr. Irman and Ms. Asniar, Sutrisno’s family members including Sutrisno’s wife, Mrs. Mariam. They all agreed to help the police to convince Sutrisno to surrender. The wife’s mobile phone, as evidence of their agreement, was given to the police officer Adjunct-commissaries Police (AKP) Suraji, in the hope of locating her husband’s hiding place.
On February 26, between 12.00 and 01.00 pm, Sutrisno’s wife and brother had information regarding his whereabouts. They went to the hiding place, which was in his cousin’s house in Lolu village, Sigi Biromaru sub-district, Sigi Regency. Shortly thereafter, they phoned the police and informed them of Sutrisno’s location.
At approximately 01.00 pm, the wife and brother went by motorcycle to Lolu village, followed by three police officers. When they arrived and found the hiding place, the police re-arrested him. He was cooperative and went peacefully. He did not resist. Nevertheless, the police bound his hands behind his back, covering his face with a t-shirt. Sutrisno’s wife, who witnessed the arrest, said that her husband at that time was in good physical condition and had no health problems.
On the way to the Sigi Police Station, Mr. Windra, a police officer who arrested Sutrisno, reported to his commander, AKP Suraji, that Sutrisno did not resist and was very cooperative. About 01.30 pm, police officer, Windra, with Sutrisno’s uncle and two friends arrived at the Sigi Police Station.
There were many police officers standing around waiting for Sutrisno, including AKP Suraji. Then, in order to keep Sutrisno safe, Windra shouted “Do not hit him (Sutrisno). He surrendered without resistance, and if (you) hit him, it means that you also hit me.”
Windra brought Sutrisno to an interrogating room and formally handed him over to AKP Suraji. Windra requested he secure Sutrisno but not beat him because he surrendered peacefully. Windra left the police station to continue to search for one of the other escaped suspects.
After Windra left, Mr. Ishak, a police officer on duty, saw more than 10 police officers surrounding a man in custody who was Sutrisno. Ishak heard the man scream. Besides Sutrisno, there were three other prisoners in custody. They witnessed Mr. Sutrisno being viciously beaten to death by a dozen police officers using wooden and rattan laths .
At 08.00 pm, Sutrisno’s body was brought to the Bhayangkara Hospital of Central Sulawesi regional police (Polda Sulawesi Tengah), in Palu city. At 1.00 am on February 27, Sutrisno’s family was informed of his death. At 07.00 am the family went to the hospital to claim Sutrisno’s body for burial.
At 10:00 am, after seeing the condition of Sutrisno’s body, the family immediately brought him to the Tota Belo Hospital to be examined for the cause of death. His entire body was badly beaten, with contusions on the back, unexplained holes in the body and a serious head injury. After the examination at the hospital, the family buried Sutrisno with uncertain law enforcement procedures and investigations facing them in the future.
I respectfully request you ensure that police brutality, which caused the death of Mr. Sutrisno, be investigated properly under fair trial principles. The police officers found guilty should be prosecuted and tried without undue delay. The government should provide compensation for the victim’s family. The President and Parliament must seriously evaluate police reform. They need to apply a high standard of law enforcement to eradicate impunity. This type of crime CAN be stopped from occurring in the future.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Joko Widodo
President of the Republic of Indonesia
Jl. Veteran No. 16
Jakarta Pusat
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 3458 595
Fax: +62 21 3484 4759
E-mail: webmaster@setneg.go.id
2. Mr. Yasonna Laoly
Minister of Law and Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 525 3006, 525 3889
Fax: +62 21 525 3095
3. Dr. Mualimin Abdi SH., MH
Director General of Human Rights
Office of the Director General of Human Rights
Jl. HR Rasuna Said Kav. 6–7
Kuningan, Jakarta 12940
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 5253006
Fax: +62 21 5253095
4. General Pol. Drs. H.M. Tito Karnavian, M.A., Ph.D
Chief of National Police (KAPOLRI)
Jl. Trunojoyo No. 3 KebayoranBaru, Jakarta Selatan 12110
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 384 8537, 726 0306
Fax: +62 21 7220 669
E-mail: info@polri.go.id
5. Ms. Poengky Indarti
Commissioner of the National Police Commission
Jl. Tirtayasa VII No. 20
KebayoranBaru, Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 739 2315
Fax: +62 21 739 2352
E-mail: secretariat@kompolnas.go.id, skm@kompolnas.go.id
6. Professor. Amzulian Rifai S.H, LL.M, PhD
Chairperson of Ombudsman of Republic of Indonesia
Jl. HR. Rasuna Said Kav. C-19 Kuningan (GedungPengadilan TIPIKOR) Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 52960894/95
Fax: +62 21-52960904/05
7. Dr. HM. Azis Syamsuddin, SH
Chairperson of the Commission III of The House of Representatives
KetuaKomisi III DPR RI
Gedung Nusantara II DPR RI, Lt I
JalanJenderalGatotSubroto, Jakarta,
INDONESIA
Telp : +62 21 -5715566, +62 21-5715569, +62 21-5715864
Fax : +62 21 5715566
8. Mr. Abdul Haris Semendawai
Chairperson of the Agency for Victims and Witness Protection
Lembaga Perlindungan Saksi dan Korban (LPSK)
JL. Proklamasi No 56 Jakarta Pusat 10320
Tel: +62 21 31907021
Fax: +62 21 3190606 / +62 21 31927881
9. M. Imdadun Rahmat
Chairperson of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM)
Jl. Latuharhary No. 4-B
Jakarta 10310
INDONESIA
Tel: +62 21 392 5227-30
Fax: +62 21 392 5227
E-mail: info@komnas.go.id
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
