Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – The lawyer for the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI) blasted the police's lackluster investigation into the death of Bernas newspaper journalist Muhammad Syafruddin aka Udin, in 1996.

"We have supplied the police with information about the incident but the police has not given it the proper attention. Thus, it is no wonder in 17 years they have achieved nothing," lawyer Ramdlon Naning said on Tuesday. He also added that he suspected the police had stopped its investigation a long time ago.

The PWI requested a pre-trial hearing to raise complaints over the police's 'investigation'. However, commenting on the pre-trial, Adj, Sr. Comr. Bambang Wardani of the Yogyakarta Police said it was irrelevant and asked the panel to halt the hearing process.

"The police have never stopped investigating. Once we receive new – and convincing – information, we will continue the investigation," he said.

Many believe that Udin was killed because of his investigative reporting into allegations of corruption in Bantul regency, under then regent Col. (ret) Sri Roso Sudarmo. During the investigation, the police threw evidence into the sea and arrested Dwi Sumadji, alias Iwik, fingering him for the murder.

The police said Iwik had killed Udin out of revenge because Udin had an affair with his wife. However, later on the Bantul State Court declared that Iwik innocent.