Ulma Haryanto – The West Sumatra Commission on Human Rights has found irregularities in the police's account of the deaths of two young brothers who died while in custody in the province last month.

"We went to the Sijunjung Police precinct to inspect the place. At first they were reluctant, but I insisted so they let us inside," Mahdianur, from the commission known as Komda HAM, said on Wednesday.

Earlier this week, the West Sumatra Police announced that an autopsy commissioned by the police indicated that 14-year-old Faisal and 17-year-old Busri had died after hanging themselves in the bathroom.

"We checked the bathroom, which was very small and narrow. I don't think it's possible for two boys to hang themselves in there," Mahdianur said.

Faisal was arrested on Dec. 21 for stealing from a charity box at a mosque. Busri was arrested five days later for stealing a motorcycle. Neither had been proven guilty.

The team from Komda HAM also questioned the villagers who reported Faisal to the village head before he was being taken by Sijunjung Police.

"Villagers suspected Faisal of theft for some time, but when they caught him they couldn't find proof," Mahdianur said. The police have claimed that Faisal was beaten by a mob.

On the night of Dec. 28, Faisal and Busri's parents were notified by village authorities that their sons had died in police custody.

The Padang Legal Aid Institute (LBH), which is representing the family, said a doctor who performed the autopsy on the brothers told them that the M. Djamil Hospital did not confirm the boys died of suicide.

"They only confirmed that the boys died of asphyxia and also that their bruises were only a few days old," said Ronny Saputra from LBH Padang.

LBH Padang and Komda HAM said they were not allowed to see the full autopsy report from the police. Vino Oktavia Mancun, an LBH Padang lawyer, said the family was seeking a full investigation into the deaths.

"We have asked the National Police to take over the case and we have asked favors from the House of Representatives Commission III [overseeing legal affairs] to go into the field," Vino said. "We will also report the case to Komnas HAM [National Commission on Human Rights] because, to tell you the truth, we no longer trust the Sijunjung Police or the West Sumatra police."

LBH Padang is also asking the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) to assist its efforts in the case.

"Even though we do not trust the police, we are still going to follow the procedures, including the political ones. The National Police chief has to take the responsibility," said Alvon Kurnia Parma, the YLBHI chairman.

"This is not the only case. There are several others [where police have resorted to violence], and the House has to warn and admonish [National Police chief Gen.] Timur Pradopo."

Alvon said the family was also seeking help from the National Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) Didi Firdaus, the victims' brother, said that shortly before Faisal died, he had met him at the police station on Dec. 22 and talked to him.

He said Faisal was too scared to tell him what had happened or explain why he was limping. Didi said Faisal's feet were covered in plastic bags and there were bruises all over his body.

Faisal begged his brother not to tell their mother of his condition, Didi said, saying he did not want his her to worry. Faisal and Budri died a week later on Dec. 28.

"I was not allowed to see their bodies. They said that their bodies had to go through all sorts of processes first," Didi said.

[Additional reporting by Dessy Sagita.]