Haeril Halim, Jakarta – The family of terrorist suspect Siyono, who died while in custody of the National Police's counterterrorism unit, Densus 88, are now turning to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for justice.
The family filed a report to the antigraft body on Thursday to probe Densus 88 chief Eddy Hartono for attempting to bribe the family with Rp 100 million (US$7,363) to remain quiet and not file any legal action against the unit for Siyono's death.
The move came after the family was dissatisfied with the police's decision to only charge two Densus 88 members for ethical breaches surrounding Siyono's arrest during a crackdown in Klaten, Central Java. Siyono was allegedly beaten to death.
A team consisting of several civil society groups led by the country's second largest Islamic organization, Muhammadiyah, which advocates the family's search for justice over Siyono's death, has also filed a criminal report against Densus to Klaten Police.
Muhammadiyah Youth chairman Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said it was unethical for the Densus 88 chief to attempt to silence Siyono's family with "bribe money", after it was revealed that Siyono's arrest was plagued with apparent irregularities.
"The KPK has accepted our report. We hope that the antigraft body will follow up [the case]," Dahnil told reporters at the KPK headquarters.
The National Police repeatedly claimed the money was merely a donation to help Siyono's wife, Suratmi, finance the livelihoods of her five children after the loss of their father, adding that it did not come from Densus 88's coffers but from Eddy's own pocket.
Suratmi accepted the money, but only brought it to Muhammadiyah to show as proof that the National Police had acted unethically.
The team representing the family handed over the money to the KPK as evidence to back up its report and urged the antigraft body to investigate the money's origin. The team wanted to know whether Eddy received the money to be used as a bribe and whether it was from legal or illegal sources, said team member Ray Rangkuti.
"We want the KPK to reveal the source of the money through an investigation. If it is [Eddy's] own money then where did he get it from? If it is gratuity money then the KPK should also investigate it. Is it rational for the Densus 88 chief to give away Rp 100 million as a 'donation'?" Ray said.
"For us, [Densus 88] gave the money to the family to influence them not to file a lawsuit. Does this not steal away the right of a citizen to not allow them their constitutional right of utilizing the law?" he added.
KPK spokesman Yuyuk Andriati said the antigraft body would analyze the report before deciding to launch an investigation.
In addition, rights activists lambasted the Police for conducting the ethical hearing behind closed doors. Judges at the hearing also reportedly prohibited Siyono's father Marso Diyono from being accompanied by a lawyer during the hearing.
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/05/20/family-reports-densus-88-chief-KPK.html