Jakarta – The Jakarta Police said Monday it would coordinate with the Navy's Military Police (POMAL) to prosecute a Navy officer allegedly behind the killing of environmental activist Jopi Teguh Lesmana Peranginangin.
Jopi, who was a member of the environmental group, Sawit Watch, was stabbed to death outside a night club in Kemang, South Jakarta, on Saturday morning.
"The South Jakarta Police are coordinating with the Navy, as they suspect the involvement of an officer in the alleged murder," said Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Muhammad Iqbal. Iqbal declined to provide further details on the identity of the alleged killer.
Under existing laws, the police have no authority to prosecute military personnel. Trials for such personnel are carried out by military tribunal.
According to a press release published by the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) on Saturday, a witness said Jopi was attacked by a group of robust men with crew cuts after he tried to break up a fight between his friend, identified as A, and the group. The perpetrator, according to a witness, claimed he was a member of the military. (ren)