Hans David Tampubolon and Nani Afrida – It has been more than three weeks since the death of National Unity Party (PBB) secretary-general Irzen Octa, 50.

While five suspects have been detained in connection with Octa's death, irregularities in the police investigation have raised questions on how Octa died and the seriousness of the authorities in pursuing the case.

Octa arrived at Citibank's branch office at Jamsostek tower on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta, on March 29 to dispute his credit card bill and was ushered to a meeting room on the fifth floor.

The details of Octa's meeting with three contract debt collectors employed by Citibank remain unclear. Octa lost consciousness during the meeting and was rushed to Mintohardjo Naval Hospital, where he was declared dead upon arrival.

The police named a senior debt collector, identified by his initials, DT, and three other debt collectors – H, D and A – as suspects for possible physical abuse that led to Octa's death.

Investigators also detained a fifth suspect, BT, the owner of the debt collection company hired by Citibank. But the police have issued contradictory statements throughout the investigation.

South Jakarta Police chief detective Adj. Sr. Comr. Budi Irawan said on April 1 that blood splatters found on the curtains and walls of the meeting room were evidence that Octa had been treated violently.

Budi's statement was reinforced a day later by South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Gatot Edi Pramono, who said at a press conference that Octa had allegedly suffered abuse at the hands of the debt collectors, who took turns interrogating Octa while kicking and punching him.

However, on April 5, Budi made a different statement on Octa's death, denying that there had been violence.

At about the same time, different versions of Octa's autopsy results were released.

Ade Firmansyah, a forensic pathologist at the University of Indonesia, allegedly issued two contradictory reports on an autopsy performed on March 29 at 6:35 p.m., according to the lawyer of Octa's family, OC Kaligis,

The Jakarta Post obtained copies of both reports.

The first report reviewed said that while Octa tested negative for drugs, there were bruises on his back, his jaw was stiff, his nose was blistered and dripping blood, and that his face and the skin under his fingernails had a purple hue.

According to that report's conclusion, "blisters on the nose due to blunt object trauma and signs of asphyxiation were found on this 50-year-old male body. The cause of the death cannot be fully determined until an internal autopsy of the body is conducted".

The second autopsy report obtained by the Post also indicated that Octa's nose was blistered and dripping blood and that his face and the skin under his fingernails had a purple hue.

However, the second report said there were indications of a brain hemorrhage, frozen blood inside the brain and bruises to the brainstem.

The second report concluded that "the cause of the death was an illness in which there was a stroke in the brain and under the meninges that pressed against the brainstem, and these findings need to be further confirmed by laboratories examination".

Kaligis did not accept Ade's later statement that both reports reflected initial findings and that the final confidential results of the autopsy had been submitted to the police.

"There's something fishy behind all of this. I believe Citibank will do everything they can to cover up this case because they are afraid about the implications for their business," he said.

The police have not responded to demands from Octa's family for a second autopsy to be made by independent forensic experts.

University of Indonesia criminologist Adrianus Meliala said it was not unusual for pathologists to issue different autopsy reports. "However, in this case, I am curious as to the urgency that forced the pathologist to issue two different autopsy results for something that is essential for investigations," Adrianus said.

According to Adrianus, there were two different kinds of autopsies for criminal investigations, internal and external.

"Usually the internal autopsy only takes one or two hours after the external one. I believe the second result included the internal autopsy but was not specifically stated," he said.

Kaligis also alleged that Citibank disturbed the scene of Octa's death by removing Octa's body and taking it to the hospital.

"After he died it took two hours for them to call the police. The body had been taken away," he said. "They should have called the police the moment the victim died. Or Citibank should have immediately called an ambulance when the victim complained about his health."

Octa family has since filed a lawsuit demanding Rp 3 trillion in damages from Citibank. Citibank Country Corporate Affairs Head Citi Indonesia Director Ditta Amahorseya said the bank had complied with police requests in an appropriate manner, and will continue to cooperate fully with them.