Yemris Fointuna, Maumere – The National Police denied Tuesday accusations that one of three Catholic convicts, Dominggus da Silva, was tortured before being executed last week.

The family of da Silva, who was executed for inciting violence against Muslims in Central Sulawesi in 2000, insisted that his body be exhumed for a second time to check for evidence of torture.

Da Silva's adoptive father Anselmus da Silva said that the autopsy report would be used by the family and his lawyers to file a lawsuit over the execution with the International Court of Justice.

"We're convinced that the execution was not done in accordance with procedures, which explains why the executors buried the body immediately without informing his family members," Anselmus said.

However, the International Court of Justice does not accept reports and complaints from individuals.

However, National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paulus Purwoko said that the family's remarks were made based on information from people claiming to have seen the body, who told them that it appeared to have four bullet wounds, a stab wound and some bruises and broken bones.

Da Silva was originally buried in Palu, Central Sulawesi, where the three convicts were executed, before his body was exhumed by his lawyers and church members. The body was bathed, a wake was held at the local Catholic Church and the body was then sent back to da Silva's hometown in Maumere, West Nusa Tenggara, for a proper burial.

"The execution was conducted in line with technical instructions from the National Police Headquarters," Purwoko said as quoted by Detikcom online news agency. He said that there were a dozen shooters for each of the three condemned men, half of whom were given blanks without their knowledge.

Anselmus said that the decision to exhume da Silva's body had been made in consultation with da Silva's lawyer Roy Rening and Petrus Salestinus. "The two lawyers have given their approval for exhuming the body," he said.

The autopsy was originally scheduled to be held upon the arrival of the da Silva's body in Maumere on Sunday, but was not conducted due to a number of considerations, Anselmus said. He further said that before exhuming the body, his family would sent a letter to Sikka Police for the sake of security.

Indications of torture were reportedly found on the bodies of the two other executed convicts. Rening said that there were five bullet wounds on the bodies of both Fabianus Tibo and Marinus Riwu. "An autopsy had been conducted on the bodies of both da Silva and Riwu," Rening said without commenting on the plan of da Silva's family to exhume the body again for another autopsy.

Palu Police reported that an autopsy had already been conducted before da Silva was buried in Palu, however, the family say it was conducted without their knowledge.

Rening said that in line with a 1964 law on executions, the firing squad was only allowed to fire one shot at the heart.

"If the first shot is done and an examination shows that the convict is still alive, the firing squad will be allowed to aim their rifle at the head above the ear. "The fact is that the executed trio were shot several times," Rening said.