Pekanbaru – After months of questioning, the Riau Police have detained six of their officers suspected of taking part in a brawl with locals in the Meranti Islands of Riau province.
The arrested officers include five men and one woman. The suspects have only been identified by their initials. They are Sec. Brig AS, Brig. DY, Sec. Brig EM, Chief Brig. D, Brig. BS and Brig. LN.
In addition to internal disciplinary action for their misconduct, the suspects will face a public court trial, Riau Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Guntur Aryo Tejo said on Friday.
"The Riau Police's internal affairs division will handle the disciplinary violations while the criminal investigation division will handle their criminal offenses," he said on Friday.
The six personnel were named suspects for allegedly torturing and causing the death of 24-year-old Apriadi Pratama, or Adi, a contract worker for the Meranti Islands' administration who was named a suspect for allegedly stabbing Brig. Adil S. Tambunan, a member of Meranti Islands Police precinct.
The alleged torture of Adi sparked a protest leading to a brawl between locals and members of the police at the Meranti Islands Police headquarters on Aug. 15.
The six officers could face dishonorable discharge if the court declared them guilty for the offenses and sentenced them to more than three months in prison, Guntur added.