Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – A team of psychologists examining 42 witnesses in the attack that took place in Cebongan Penitentiary, Sleman, Yogyakarta, said 10 witnesses would require teleconferencing facilities when giving testimony in the upcoming trial at the Yogyakarta Military Court.
"We recommend the 10 witnesses give their testimonies directly without being present at the trial," team head Yusti Probowati said when presenting the results of the examination in front of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) and Yogyakarta Law and Human Rights Office on Monday.
Yusti said the 10 witnesses consisted of two Sleman prison guards and eight inmates. They preferred to use the teleconference facility because they still felt anxious about the mechanisms of a military court.
According to the Witness and Victim Protection Law, witnesses have the right and can give testimony through electronic devices, such as teleconferencing. "Forty-one people can stand as witnesses, but only 31 have the courage to give testimonies directly in court," said Yusti.
Based on the examination conducted from May 29 to June 15, the 18-strong team of psychologists from the Indonesia Psychological Forensic Association (Apsifor) found that 34 people would be able to give testimony in court.
They consisted of eight prison guards and 25 inmates, while seven people – two prison guards and five inmates – were deemed less able to give testimony. Only one inmate was deemed not able to do so.
After disclosing her report, Yusti handed it to the LPSK, represented by LPSK member Teguh Soedarsono.
Teguh said the report would serve as a basis of whether or not the witnesses required the teleconference facility when giving testimony to the court later. "We will send the result of the examination to the Yogyakarta Military Court's council of judges," he said.
He would also send a report to the Yogyakarta Military Prosecutor's Office head, Supreme Court chief justice, Judicial Commission head, Law and Human Rights Ministry, High Military Court in Surabaya, East Java, and the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander-in-chief.
A witness in the case, security head of Cebongan Penitentiary Margo Utomo, said he was not afraid of giving testimony in court.
"However, if possible, we prefer to give our testimonies through teleconferencing," said Margo, arguing that he would not need to leave his prison duties if he could make use of teleconferencing facilities.
Yogyakarta Law and Human Rights Office administrative division head Tarsono said his office had yet to receive an order from the Yogyakarta Military Court regarding the witness summons.
"We have only coordinated with the Yogyakarta Military Prosecutor's Office regarding witness protection when the witnesses are brought from the prison to the military court," said Tarsono.
On June 20, the Yogyakarta Military Court will commence hearing the trial of 12 members of Group 2 of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) in Kandang Menjangan, Sukoharjo, Central Java, who allegedly shot and killed four inmates at Sleman prison.
As reported earlier, the 12 Kopassus members allegedly burst into the prison on March 23. They then shot and killed four murder suspects who had alledgedly killed their colleague, former Kopassus member First Sergeant Heru Santoso, at a cafe on March 9.
The four deceased were identified as Hendrik Angel Sahetapi, Yohanes Juan Manbait, Gameliel Yermianto Rohi Riwu and Andrianus Candra Galaja.