A mugging suspect in Bali is claiming that local police “tortured” him into confessing during the interrogation process.
The family of SH, 35, have launched a report with Propam, Bali Police’s internal affairs division about alleged misconduct of Gianyar municipal officers.
“I went to Gianyar Police to visit my brother on (Aug. 10) and met him. He said is body was all in pain and he showed me an injury on his wrist,” said the brother of SH, Muhyiddin Syamsuddin, as quoted by Detik.
Syamsuddin also said he saw a bruise on SH’s chest, which was allegedly caused somehow by “a water hose and shoes.” SH told him that he additionally had his genitals burned with dripping hot plastic, Syamsuddin said before reporters from Bali Police headquarters on Monday.
“He was pressured to confess to muggings at 17 crime scenes. Because he lost his strength, he eventually confessed to two crime scenes,” Syamsuddin said.
Moreover, the man says his brother was not accompanied by a lawyer at the time of questioning.
To top it all, Syamsuddin alleges that there was violence at the time of SH’s arrest on August 4, at his boardinghouse in Denpasar.
“He was arrested at August 5, 2017 at 5am at his boarding house in Pemogan. The case of theft had occurred the night before. When he was arrested, there was no arrest warrant. he was beaten in room, his girlfriend and other tenants of his boardinghouse witnessed it,” Syamsuddin said.
SH was reportedly arrested based on CCTV footage showing a black Vespa, similar to one used by him, but the plate was apparently not clear.
“The black Vespa used by my brother is similar to that on CCTV, but the plate of the Vespa in the CCTV is unknown,” Syamsuddin said.
The man also told reporters that he did not want SH to receive medical treatment yet, because his alleged physical injuries needed to be logged as evidence to be later used in a civil suit against Gianyar Police.
“He said there were eight people who tortured him.
“If he really did the theft, please proceed under the law, but our family condemns this treatment,” Syamsuddin said.
Bali Police spokesman, Hengky Widjaja, confirmed that police received the report about alleged maltreatment of SH on August 14, adding that Propam will still need time to investigate the claims.
“Even though he was arrested, he has not been convicted, so we’re asking for time for Propam,” Widjaja said.
Reader Interactions