Candra Malik, Surakarta – The Karanganyar military district chief has been removed from his post the day after he sought out a reporter whom he allegedly kidnapped, beat up and threatened, and offered an apology.
The chief, Lt. Col. Lilik Sutikna, visited the office of the Solo Post daily in Surakarta on Tuesday, to apologize to journalist Triyono, who covered a corruption trial that implicated the Karanganyar military district.
Lilik has publicly admitted to beating Triyono and threatening his family while in a fit of rage over the story. Brig. Gen. Langgeng Sulistiyono, the Diponegoro military commander in charge of Central Java, confirmed on Wednesday that he had removed Lilik from the post because of the beating, and had launched a Military Police investigation, according to Col. Abdul Rahman Kadir, commander of the Surakarta military district.
"We will make sure that the suspect is prosecuted, and the victim is protected. We deeply regret the beating incident that resulted in the hurting of a journalist and sullied press freedom," Abdul Rahman told reporters.
Triyono then described what Lilik had done: "He beat me five times, grabbed my hair and threatened me. He said that he would kill me and my family if I dared to write about" the corruption case.
Triyono wrote a story on Sept. 1, covering a hearing in the trial of Toni Haryono, the husband of Karanganyar District Head Rina Iriani, who is accused of embezzling Rp 15 billion in government housing funds and directing the money to political parties, police and military command officials in Karanganyar.
"I was picked up by a military detective and taken to their headquarters," Triyono said. "In the commandant's office, Lt. Col. Lilik Sutikna beat me and threatened to kill me. He said that he did not like my story."
Triyono initially did not reveal what had happened to him for fear of reprisal, he said. But he could not hide his swollen face and black eye.
After he revealed the truth to his editors, he was rushed to a hospital. Accompanied by his editors and a number of press organizations, Triyono reported Lilik to the Military Police detachment in Solo on Tuesday.
"Thankfully, the case was handled immediately. However, we ask that the safety of Triyono and his family be guaranteed by the police and the army," said Anton Wahyu Prihartono, the managing editor of Solo Pos.
Lilik has admitted to beating and threatening Triyono, saying he could not help himself. "I realized I did something wrong and I am ready to undergo the legal process in the Military Police detachment," he said on Wednesday morning.