Jakarta – Indonesian Police Watch says it is concerned over recent allegations that police are using violence to get confessions from suspects.
"The police using violent means to get suspects to confess is not a new thing and is caused by a failure in the institution's education system," Indonesian Police Watch head Neta S. Pane told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
He said there needed to be firm measures in place to deal with officers who intimidated witnesses and suspects with violence, adding that the police needed to reform its training system.
On Tuesday, a case of alleged police assault in Ciledug, South Jakarta, was reported to the Jakarta Police. The allegations follow those made last week about a violent false arrest by Jati Asih Police in Bekasi.
Officers from Ciledug Police station are alleged to have beaten police informers Hendro Giantoro, 25, and Suhartono, alias Pentil, 43, in an attempt to force them to confess to being involved in a series of motorcycle thefts. Hendro alleged that the officers had applied electric shocks to Suhartono's genitals.
The two men were called in to Ciledug Police station Saturday night by station criminal unit head First Insp. Krismi Widodo. The men knew Krismi as they had been working with the police as informers.
Hendro alleges that Krismi's staff then forced them to confess to being a member of motorcycle theft gang. He also alleged that police had beaten the gang's leader, Rinto, until he had said that Hendro and Suhartono were a part of the gang.
Hendro and Suhartono were released Monday due to inadequate evidence, while the other four were taken to jail.
Hendro's mother, Aries Miati, 52, said her son did not know the four people arrested. She reported Krismi to the Jakarta Police, along with Cildedug Police officers Chief Brig. Joko, Chief Brig Andreas, Chief. Brig Supri, Chief Brig. Badri, and Chief Brig. Sagala.
Chief Brig. Joko is alleged to have lit a joint while attacking the two and to have said, "Beating you up while getting high would be fun".
Neta said the police were still using old military ways inherited from the military education system.